Open AccessMolecular characterization of Leishmania parasites in naturally infected sand flies from the endemic focus of Kerman City, Southeastern Iran
Author(s) -
Masoumeh Mozafary,
Mohammad Saaid Dayer,
Abbas Aghaei Afshar,
Hamid Reza Mollaie
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
asian pacific journal of tropical disease
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.208
H-Index - 33
ISSN - 2222-1808
DOI - 10.1016/s2222-1808(15)61011-8
Subject(s) - restriction fragment length polymorphism , biology , veterinary medicine , leishmania tropica , vector (molecular biology) , leishmaniasis , cutaneous leishmaniasis , population , leishmania , nested polymerase chain reaction , psychodidae , virology , phlebotomus , polymerase chain reaction , parasite hosting , genetics , gene , medicine , environmental health , world wide web , computer science , recombinant dna
Objective: To identify the etiological agent, host and vector of anthroponotic cutaneous\udleishmaniasis in Kerman City, Southeastern Iran, using nested PCR and restriction fragment\udlength polymorphism-PCR techniques.\udMethods: Conducting this cross-sectional study in Kerman City from March to November\ud2014, we collected and morphologically identified 1 075 sandflies. The phlebotomine sand flies\udwere then molecularly examined for harboring Leishmania parasites and blood meal preference\udusing nested PCR and restriction fragment length polymorphism-PCR techniques respectively.\udResults: Phlebotomus sergenti (P. sergenti) and Phlebotomus papatasi were found to comprise\ud94.3% and 5.7% of catches respectively. Nested PCR assay, applied for kDNA minicircles\udamplification, detected Leishmania tropica in P. sergenti at the rate of 3.6%. Also, restriction\udfragment length polymorphism-PCR assay on mtDNA fragments demonstrated that 41.8% of P.\udsergenti population preferred to feed on human blood rather than other animals.\udConclusions: This is the first study to provide molecular bases for incriminating P. sergenti\udas the main vector of Leishmania tropica, the causative agent of anthroponotic cutaneous\udleishmaniasis, in Kerman City. This study emphasized the high predominance, strong\udanthropophilic behavior and peridomicile adaptation of P. sergenti population in the focus