Molecular detection of Leishmania species in human and animals from cutaneous leishmaniasis endemic areas of Waziristan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Leishmaniasis, one of the most important parasitic diseases worldwide, is frequently cited with respect to health risks related to climate change. The current variability of the climate may have different impacts on the transmission of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) depending on the various Leishmania species. The number and distribution of CL cases in Khuzestan Province, Southwestern Iran was analysed over the 2010-2014 period with regard to temperature, humidity, rainfall, sunshine hours, evaporation and wind-related climate issues. During the study period, there were 4672 recorded clinical cases of CL, the incidence of which was found to fall into three types of areas, such as high, intermediate and low-level endemic areas. Compared to the intermediate and low-endemic areas, the hyper-endemic areas showed significantly variable meteorological data with regard to rainy days, maximum/minimum temperature and humidity. Decreased temperatures in the eastern part of this province were found to promote the disease towards its centre. We conclude that the meteorological variables and incidence data of CL indicate that the number of rainy days, maximum and minimum temperatures and relative humidity are significant variables that can predict CL incidence. Indeed, the substantial climatic variability occurring during the recent 5-year period (2010-2014) in Khuzestan Province could be the main reason for the change in epidemiology and transmission of CL.

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First report on molecular characterization of Leishmania species from cutaneous leishmaniasis patients in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan

Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine ◽

10.1016/j.apjtm.2017.07.015 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 10 (7) ◽

pp. 718-721 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Mubbashir Hussain ◽

Shahzad Munir ◽

Sultan Ayaz ◽

Bahar Ullah Khattak ◽

Taj Ali Khan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cutaneous Leishmaniasis ◽

Molecular Characterization ◽

Leishmania Species ◽

First Report ◽

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa ◽

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province

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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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Characterization of Leishmania infection in rodents from endemic areas of the Islamic Republic of Iran

Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal ◽

10.26719/2004.10.4-5.591 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 10 (4-5) ◽

pp. 591-599 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

M. Mohebali ◽

E. Javadian ◽

M. R. Yaghoobi Ershadi ◽

A. A. Akhavan ◽

H. Hajjaran ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Visceral Leishmaniasis ◽

Cutaneous Leishmaniasis ◽

Leishmania Species ◽

Leishmania Infection ◽

Islamic Republic ◽

Tatera Indica ◽

Islamic Republic Of Iran ◽

Endemic Areas ◽

First Time

Between 1991-2000, Leishmania species were isolated and characterized by isoenzyme and molecular analysis from rodents caught in various parts of the Islamic Republic of Iran. In areas endemic for cutaneous leishmaniasis, parasites were observed by direct microscopy in smears from 18.6% of 566 specimens. L. major was isolated from 4 species:Rhombomys opimus, Meriones libycus, Tatera indica and Mer. hurrianae. L. turanica was isolated from R. opimus for the first time in this country. In endemic areas of visceral leishmaniasis, parasites were observed in liver and spleen from 13.7% of 504 rodents. Two species were positive on culture; promastigotes isolated from Mer. persicus were characterized as L. donovani zymodeme LON50 and from Mesocricetus auratus as L. infantum LON49

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Spatiotemporal patterns of cutaneous leishmaniasis in the district upper and lower Dir, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan: A GIS-based spatial approaches

Acta Tropica ◽

10.1016/j.actatropica.2021.105861 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 217 ◽

pp. 105861

Author(s):

Ismail Zeb ◽

Naveeda Akhter Qureshi ◽

Nargis Shaheen ◽

Mazhar Iqbal Zafar ◽

Abid Ali ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cutaneous Leishmaniasis ◽

Spatiotemporal Patterns ◽

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

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The Role of CD1a expression in the diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis, its relationship with Leishmania species and clinicopathological features

Dermatologic Therapy ◽

10.1111/dth.14977 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Yasemin Yuyucu Karabulut ◽

Funda KuŞ Bozkurt ◽

Ümit Türsen ◽

Gül Bayram ◽

Gülhan Örekeci Temel ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cutaneous Leishmaniasis ◽

Leishmania Species ◽

Clinicopathological Features

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Film-Forming Systems for the Delivery of DNDI-0690 to Treat Cutaneous Leishmaniasis

Pharmaceutics ◽

10.3390/pharmaceutics13040516 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (4) ◽

pp. 516

Author(s):

Katrien Van Bocxlaer ◽

Kerri-Nicola McArthur ◽

Andy Harris ◽

Mo Alavijeh ◽

Stéphanie Braillard ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Drug Delivery ◽

Cutaneous Leishmaniasis ◽

Mouse Skin ◽

Parasite Load ◽

Leishmania Species ◽

Lesion Size ◽

Drying Time ◽

Sustained Drug Delivery ◽

Film Forming ◽

The Impact

In cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), parasites reside in the dermis, creating an opportunity for local drug administration potentially reducing adverse effects and improving treatment adherence compared to current therapies. Polymeric film-forming systems (FFSs) are directly applied to the skin and form a thin film as the solvent evaporates. In contrast to conventional topical dosage forms, FFSs strongly adhere to the skin, favouring sustained drug delivery to the affected site, reducing the need for frequent applications, and enhancing patient compliance. This study reports the first investigation of the use of film-forming systems for the delivery of DNDI-0690, a nitroimidazole compound with potent activity against CL-causing Leishmania species. A total of seven polymers with or without plasticiser were evaluated for drying time, stickiness, film-flexibility, and cosmetic attributes; three FFSs yielded a positive evaluation for all test parameters. The impact of each of these FFSs on the permeation of the model skin permeant hydrocortisone (hydrocortisone, 1% (w/v) across the Strat-M membrane was evaluated, and the formulations resulting in the highest and lowest permeation flux (Klucel LF with triethyl citrate and Eudragit RS with dibutyl sebacate, respectively) were selected as the FFS vehicle for DNDI-0690. The release and skin distribution of the drug upon application to Leishmania-infected and uninfected BALB/c mouse skin were examined using Franz diffusion cells followed by an evaluation of the efficacy of both DNDI-0690 FFSs (1% (w/v)) in an experimental CL model. Whereas the Eudragit film resulted in a higher permeation of DNDI-0690, the Klucel film was able to deposit four times more drug into the skin, where the parasite resides. Of the FFSs formulations, only the Eudragit system resulted in a reduced parasite load, but not reduced lesion size, when compared to the vehicle only control. Whereas drug delivery into the skin was successfully modulated using different FFS systems, the FFS systems selected were not effective for the topical application of DNDI-0690. The convenience and aesthetic of FFS systems alongside their ability to modulate drug delivery to and into the skin merit further investigation using other promising antileishmanial drugs.

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Macrophage Polarization in the Skin Lesion Caused by Neotropical Species of Leishmania sp

Journal of Immunology Research ◽

10.1155/2021/5596876 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2021 ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

Carmen M. Sandoval Pacheco ◽

Gabriela V. Araujo Flores ◽

Kadir Gonzalez ◽

Claudia M. de Castro Gomes ◽

Luiz F. D. Passero ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cutaneous Leishmaniasis ◽

Macrophage Polarization ◽

Leishmania Species ◽

Skin Lesions ◽

Host Cells ◽

M2 Macrophage ◽

M2 Macrophages ◽

Intracellular Parasites ◽

Skin Biopsies ◽

Acquired Immune Responses

Macrophages play important roles in the innate and acquired immune responses against Leishmania parasites. Depending on the subset and activation status, macrophages may eliminate intracellular parasites; however, these host cells also can offer a safe environment for Leishmania replication. In this sense, the fate of the parasite may be influenced by the phenotype of the infected macrophage, linked to the subtype of classically activated (M1) or alternatively activated (M2) macrophages. In the present study, M1 and M2 macrophage subsets were analyzed by double-staining immunohistochemistry in skin biopsies from patients with American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) caused by L. (L.) amazonensis, L. (V.) braziliensis, L. (V.) panamensis ,and L. (L.) infantum chagasi. High number of M1 macrophages was detected in nonulcerated cutaneous leishmaniasis (NUCL) caused by L. (L.) infantum chagasi ( M 1 = 112 ± 12 , M 2 = 43 ± 12 cells/mm2). On the other side, high density of M2 macrophages was observed in the skin lesions of patients with anergic diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis (ADCL) ( M 1 = 195 ± 25 , M 2 = 616 ± 114 ), followed by cases of localized cutaneous leishmaniasis (LCL) caused by L. (L.) amazonensis ( M 1 = 97 ± 24 , M 2 = 219 ± 29 ), L. (V.) panamensis ( M 1 = 71 ± 14 , M 2 = 164 ± 14 ), and L. (V.) braziliensis ( M 1 = 50 ± 13 , M 2 = 53 ± 10 ); however, low density of M2 macrophages was observed in NUCL. The data presented herein show the polarization of macrophages in skin lesions caused by different Leishmania species that may be related with the outcome of the disease.

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