Emergence of cutaneous leishmaniasis due to Leishmania major in a new focus of central Iran

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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Leishmanicidal Activity of Plant Extracts from Sefrou, a Moroccan Focus of Leishmaniasis, against Various Leishmania Parasites in the Promastigote Stage

Phytothérapie ◽

10.3166/phyto-2018-0085 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 17 (2) ◽

pp. 83-89 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

I. Zeouk ◽

A. Et-Touys ◽

M. Balouiri ◽

H. Fellah ◽

A. El Ouali Lalami ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cutaneous Leishmaniasis ◽

Plant Extracts ◽

Leishmania Infantum ◽

Leishmania Major ◽

Local Population ◽

Public Health Problem ◽

World Health ◽

Total Phenolic ◽

Leishmania Tropica ◽

Cistus Salviifolius

According to the World Health Organization, leishmaniasis remains a major worldwide public health problem. The province of Sefrou located in the center of Morocco is a focus of cutaneous leishmaniasis. The present study aims at evaluating the antileishmanial potential of Berberis sp.,Crataegus oxyacantha, Cistus salviifolius, Ephedra altissima and Lavandula dentatafrequently used by the local population. Methanolic extracts were tested against the promastigote form ofLeishmania tropica, Leishmania majorandLeishmania infantumusing tetrazolium-based colorimetric (MTT) assay. The total phenol and flavonoids content of all extracts were determined using the Folin–Ciocalteu reagent, aluminum chloride, and potassium acetate solutions respectively. The plant extracts exhibited antileishmanial activity with variability depending on the tested strain and the plant species compared to Glucantime® used as control (IC50 (the half maximal inhibitory concentration) > 1,000 μg/mL). The best inhibition was observed with Berberis sp., againstLeishmania major(IC50 = 394.40 ± 3.02 μg/ml), andEphedra altissima(reported for the first time) againstLeishmania infantum(IC50 = 490.84 ± 3.15 μg/mL).Leishmania tropicahas shown the same sensitivity behavior toward the five extracts (in average IC50 = 540 ± 11.20 μg/mL). The total phenolic content was higher forCrataegus oxyacanthaandCistus salviifolius(140.67 ± 3.17 μg eq Gallic Acid (GA)/ mg of Extract (E) and 133.83 ± 9.03 μg eq GA/mg of E respectively), while flavonoid was higher forCistus salviifoliusandLavandula dentata(57.92 ± 2.46 μg eq Quercetin (Que)/ mg of Extract (E) and 41.53 ± 1.74 μg eq Que/mg of E). All the tested extracts present some promising aspects that may cure cutaneous leishmaniasis in the center of Morocco; further bioguided assays are needed to isolate the fractions and the bioactive molecule.

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Evaluating the Effect of Cinnarizine on Promastigotes and Amastigotes forms of Leishmania major

Infectious Disorders - Drug Targets ◽

10.2174/1871526518666181113114820 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 20 (4) ◽

pp. 550-555 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Lima Asgharpour Sarouey ◽

Parvaneh Rahimi-Moghaddam ◽

Fatemeh Tabatabaie ◽

Khadijeh Khanaliha

Keyword(s):

Flow Cytometry ◽

Cutaneous Leishmaniasis ◽

Leishmania Major ◽

Inhibitory Effect ◽

Control Group ◽

Secondary Infections ◽

Ic50 Values ◽

J774 Cells ◽

Mtt Assays

: As an important global disease, cutaneous leishmaniasis is associated with complications such as secondary infections and atrophic scars. The first line treatment with antimonials is expensive and reported to have serious side effects and enhance resistance development. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of Cinnarizine on standard strains of Leishmania major because of paucity of information on this subject. Methods: In this experimental study, four concentrations of the drug (5, 10, 15 and 20 μg/ml) were added to Leishmania major cultures at 24, 48 and 72 hours intervals. MTT assays were performed to determine parasite viability and drug toxicity. Leishmania major promastigotes were augmented to the in vitro cultured macrophages (J774 cells) and then incubated for 72 hours. Half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) was ascertained by counting parasites. The inhibitory effect of the drug was compared with that of Glucantime. Flow-cytometry was performed to investigate apoptosis. Each test was repeated thrice. Results: The IC50 values of Cinnarizine after 72 hours were calculated to be 34.76 μg/ml and 23.73 μg/ml for promastigotes and amastigotes, respectively. The results of MTT assays showed 48 % promastigote viability after 72 hour-exposure to Cinnarizine at 20 μg/ml concentration. Programmed cell death in promastigote- and amastigote-infected macrophages was quantified to be 13.66 % and 98.7 %, respectively. Flow- cytometry analysis indicated that Cinnarizine induced early and late apoptosis in parasites. All treatments produced results which differed significantly from control group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Cinnarizine showed low toxicity with anti-leishmanial and apoptosis effects on both promastigote and intracellular amastigote forms. Therefore, we may suggest further assessment on animal models of this drug as candidates for cutaneous leishmaniasis therapy.

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Effects of topical gel formulation of Ficus carica latex on cutaneous leishmaniasis induced by Leishmania major in BALB/c mice

BMC Research Notes ◽

10.1186/s13104-021-05614-8 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Ali Pouryousef ◽

Erfan Eslami ◽

Sepehr Shahriarirad ◽

Sina Zoghi ◽

Mehdi Emami ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cutaneous Leishmaniasis ◽

Murine Model ◽

Leishmania Major ◽

Considerable Effect ◽

Ficus Carica ◽

Control Group ◽

Topical Gel ◽

The Third ◽

Mean Size ◽

The Mean

Abstract Objectives The current study aimed to evaluate the effects of Ficus carica latex on the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), induced by Leishmania major. A 5% topical gel with F. carica latex was prepared. BALB/c mice were infected by inoculation of amastigotes form of L. major. Thirty BALB/c mice were divided into five groups, where the first group was treated daily, the second group twice per day, and the third group every other day with the 5% topical gel, for 3 weeks. The sizes of the lesions were measured before and during the course of treatment. Results Although the mean size of lesions in the mice group treated with the 5% F. carica gel, especially in the group receiving daily treatment, was less than the mean size of the lesions in the control group, yet, the differences was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). The findings of the current study demonstrated that the 5% F. carica latex with a 3-week course of treatment had no considerable effect in recovery or control of CL induced by L. major in the murine model. Using higher concentration of F. carica latex and with longer treatment lengths may increase its efficacy in the treatment of CL.

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