Leishmania spp. infection in Rhombomys opimus and Meriones libycus as main reservoirs of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis in central parts of Iran: progress and implications in health policy

Background: Zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania major is endemic in 17 of 31 Iranian provinces. Various species of rodents have been introduced as the main reservoirs of the disease. This study was conducted to determine the natural infection of hedgehogs with Leishmania spp. in an endemic area of the disease, northern Iran. Methods: Fifteen long-eared hedgehogs were captured alive during 18 months study period, from Apr 2015 to Sep 2016, in Damghan City, Semnan Province, Iran. The animals were identified using apparent characteristics and to determine the Leishmania infection, impression smears were prepared from their ear lobes, hind feet, livers, and spleens. Microscopic examination and semi-nested PCR were applied to determine the infection and to identify the parasites species respectively. Results: All examined animals were identified as Hemiechinus auritus (Family: Erinaceidae). In microscopic examination, 8 (53.3%) samples were shown to be infected with Leishmania parasites. The higher and lower rate of the infection was observed in the ears as well as the feet and in the liver specimens, 53.3%, and 33.3% respectively. Forty percent (6/ 15) of the samples were molecularly positive and all were identified as L. major parasites. All the examined animals in autumn and 50% of them in summer were shown to be infected with Leishmania parasites. Conclusion: This study demonstrated the natural infection of H. auritus with L. major for the first time in Damghan City and introduced these mammals as new potential reservoirs of ZCL in the study area.

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Interleukin 4 (IL-4) gene promoter polymorphisms in Rhombomys opimus, the main reservoir of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis

Cytokine ◽

10.1016/j.cyto.2013.10.001 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 65 (1) ◽

pp. 1-3 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

H. Bakhshi ◽

N. Borhani ◽

M. Mohebali ◽

A. Khamesipour ◽

M.R. Abai ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cutaneous Leishmaniasis ◽

Gene Promoter ◽

Interleukin 4 ◽

Promoter Polymorphisms ◽

Zoonotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis ◽

Rhombomys Opimus

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Meriones Iibycus and Rhombomys opimus (Rodentia: Gerbillidae) are the main reservoir hosts in a new focus of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis in Iran

Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene ◽

10.1016/s0035-9203(96)90295-3 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 90 (5) ◽

pp. 503-504 ◽

Cited By ~ 40

Author(s):

M.R. Yaghoobi-Ershadi ◽

A.A. Akhavan ◽

M. Mohebali

Keyword(s):

Cutaneous Leishmaniasis ◽

Zoonotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis ◽

Rhombomys Opimus ◽

Reservoir Hosts

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Molecular characterization of Leishmania spp. in reservoir hosts in endemic foci of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis in Iran

Folia Parasitologica ◽

10.14411/fp.2013.024 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 60 (3) ◽

pp. 218-224 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

Mohammad Akhoundi ◽

Mehdi Mohebali ◽

Mina Asadi ◽

Mohamad Reza Mahmodi ◽

Kamyar Amraei ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cutaneous Leishmaniasis ◽

Molecular Characterization ◽

Zoonotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis ◽

Leishmania Spp ◽

Reservoir Hosts

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PCR-positivity of gerbils and their ectoparasites for Leishmania spp. in a hyperendemic focus of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis in central Iran

10.21203/rs.2.21837/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Sahar Azarmi ◽

Alireza Zahraei-Ramazani ◽

Mehdi Mohebali ◽

Yavar Rassi ◽

Amir Ahmad Akhavan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cutaneous Leishmaniasis ◽

Infection Rate ◽

Microscopic Examination ◽

Nested Pcr ◽

Central Iran ◽

Nested Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽

Zoonotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis ◽

Leishmania Spp ◽

Different Seasons

Abstract Background: Sand flies are the only known vectors of Leishmania parasites. Various arthropods, including ticks have been suggested as secondary vectors of Leishmania spp. many years ago. This study was conducted to determine PCR-positivity of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis reservoir hosts and their ectoparasites for Leishmania spp. in central Iran. Methods: Microscopic examination and nested polymerase chain reaction (Nested-PCR) were used to detect and identify species of Leishmania and the results were confirmed by two methods, PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and sequencing. Results: Totally, 93 rodents (Rhomombis opimus (n=92) and Nesokia indica (n=1)) were captured during different seasons and 9 different species of ectoparasites were collected from them. Out of 92 collected R. opimus, 14 were positive for Leishmania spp. by microscopic examination while one N. indica and 77 R. opimus were positive by nested-PCR. The infection rate of rodents with Leishmania major and Leishmania turanica was 39.79% and 15.05%, respectively. Mixed natural infections with L. major and L. turanica were seen in 15.05% of rodents, in 7.53% of the rodents with L. major and Leishmania gerbilli, and in 6.45% of the rodents with the three species. The leishmanial infection rate of the rodents was the highest (94.29%) in summer and lowest (45.45%) in the winter. Moreover, 39 out of 54 fleas, 5 out of 8 mites, and 1 tick were PCR positive for Leishmania parasites. Conclusions: The highest rate of infection with L. major and L. turanica in R. opimus populations was observed in the summer and spring respectively, and the highest percentage of L. major and L. turanica coinfection was seen in the winter. It is suggested that the role of L. turanica and the probable role of ectoparasites in the transmission of epidemiology should be investigated carefully. Xenodiagnostic testing is recommended for future testing.

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Isolation and Molecular Identification of Leishmania spp. in Patients With Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Golestan Province, Iran

International journal of epidemiologic research ◽

10.15171/ijer.2019.02 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

pp. 8-13

Author(s):

Ali Fattahi Bafghi ◽

Gilda Eslami ◽

Oghol Niazjorjani ◽

Farzaneh Mirzaei ◽

Javad Namrodi

Keyword(s):

Cutaneous Leishmaniasis ◽

Leishmania Species ◽

Conventional Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽

Smear Microscopy ◽

Major Health ◽

Zoonotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis ◽

Leishmania Spp ◽

History Of ◽

Golestan Province ◽

Endemic Areas

Background and aims: Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a major health issue in many parts of Iran. Diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis in a non-endemic area is not as simple as that in endemic foci. The management and treatment of this disease are global dilemmas. The purpose of this study was to identify Leishmania species isolated from human cutaneous leishmaniasis lesions in patients referred to health centers of Golestan province, Iran. Methods: Cutaneous leishmaniasis patients with suspected lesions were clinically examined. History of journey to the endemic areas of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis and/or anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis and the characteristics of their lesion(s) were recorded. Diagnosis of the lesion was done by using direct smear microscopy and conventional polymerase chain reaction. Results: Out of 360 patients, 202 (57.4 %) were male and 158 (42.8 %) were female. A total of 360 samples were selected from different cities. The number of infected samples in the cities is as follows: Azad Shahr [3 (1.5%)], Aq Qala [11 (5.7%)], Ali Abad [4 (2.1%)], Bandar Turkmen [3 (1.5%)], Bandar Gaz [2 (1%)], Ramian [3 (1.5%)], Kalaleh [23 (12.1%)], Kord koy [1 (0.5%)], Galikesh [7 (3.7 %)], Gomishan [12 (3.6 %)], Gorgan [13 (6.8 %)], Gonbad Qabus [99 (52.1 %)], Marave Tappe [7 (3.6%)] and Minoodasht [2 (1%)]. In the molecular investigations, 186 (96.8%) samples were observed to acquire rural cutaneous leishmaniasis, 4 (2.1%) to acquire urban cutaneous leishmaniasis and 170 (47.2%) to be uninfected. Conclusion: Although history of visiting endemic areas is an important factor to be considered in diagnosis, parasitological confirmation is necessary for the initiation of treatment.

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PCR-positivity of gerbils and their ectoparasites for Leishmania spp. in a hyperendemic focus of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis in central Iran

10.21203/rs.2.21837/v2 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Sahar Azarmi ◽

Alireza Zahraei-Ramazani ◽

Mehdi Mohebali ◽

Yavar Rassi ◽

Amir Ahmad Akhavan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cutaneous Leishmaniasis ◽

Infection Rate ◽

Microscopic Examination ◽

Nested Pcr ◽

Leishmania Major ◽

Central Iran ◽

Zoonotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis ◽

Leishmania Spp ◽

Leishmania Parasites

Abstract Background: Sand flies are the only known vectors of Leishmania parasites. Various arthropods, including ticks have been suggested as secondary vectors of Leishmania spp. many years ago. This study was conducted to determine PCR-positivity of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis reservoir hosts and their ectoparasites for Leishmania spp. in central Iran. Methods: Microscopic examination and nested polymerase chain reaction (Nested-PCR) were used to detect and identify species of Leishmania and the results were confirmed by two methods, PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and sequencing. Results: Totally, 93 rodents (Rhomombis opimus (n=92) and Nesokia indica (n=1)) were captured during different seasons and 9 different species of ectoparasites were collected from them. Out of 92 collected R. opimus, 14 were positive for Leishmania spp. by microscopic examination while one N. indica and 77 R. opimus were positive by nested-PCR. The infection rate of rodents with Leishmania major and Leishmania turanica was 39.79% (37) and 15.05% (14), respectively. Mixed natural infections with L. major and L. turanica were seen in 15.05% of the rodents (14), in 7.53% of the rodents (7) with L. major and Leishmania gerbilli, and in 6.45% of the rodents (6) with the three species. The leishmanial infection rate of the rodents was the highest (94.29%) in summer and lowest (45.45%) in the winter. Moreover, 39 out of 54 fleas (72.22%), 5 out of 8 mites (75%), and 1 tick nymph (100%) were PCR-positive for Leishmania parasites. Conclusions: The highest rate of infection with L. major and L. turanica in R. opimus populations was observed in the summer and spring respectively, and the highest percentage of L. major and L. turanica coinfection was seen in the winter. It is suggested that the role of L. turanica and the probable role of ectoparasites in the transmission of epidemiology should be investigated carefully. Xenodiagnostic testing is recommended for future testing.

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