High density of L eishmania major and rarity of other mammals' L eishmania in zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis foci, I ran

Objectives Only L eishmania major is well known as a causative agent of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis ( ZCL ) in I ran. Our objective was to find L eishmania parasites circulating in reservoir hosts, sand flies and human simultaneously. Methods Sand flies, rodents and prepared smears of humans were sampled. DNA of L eishmania parasites was extracted, and two fragments of ITS ‐ rDNA gene amplified by PCR . RFLP and sequencing were employed to identify L eishmania parasites. Results L eishmania major and L . turanica were identified unequivocally by targeting and sequencing ITS ‐ rDNA from humans, rodents and sand flies. The new L eishmania species close to gerbilli ( G en B ank Accession Nos. EF413076 ; EF413087 ) was discovered only in sand flies. Conclusion Based on parasite detection of ITS ‐ rDNA in main and potential reservoir hosts and vectors and humans, we conclude that at least two L eishmania species are common in the T urkmen Sahra ZCL focus. Phylogenetic analysis proved that the new L eishmania is closely related to L eishmania mammal parasites ( L eishmania major , L eishmania turanica , L eishmania gerbilli ). Its role as a principal agent of ZCL is unknown because it was found only in sand flies. Our findings shed new light on the transmission cycles of several L eishmania parasites in sand flies, reservoir hosts and humans.