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Isolation of Crithidia spp. from lesions of immunocompetent patients with suspected cutaneous leishmaniasis in Iran
Author(s) -
Ghobakhloo Nafiseh,
Motazedian Mohammad Hossein,
Naderi Shahrbanoo,
Ebrahimi Sepideh
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
tropical medicine and international health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.056
H-Index - 114
eISSN - 1365-3156
pISSN - 1360-2276
DOI - 10.1111/tmi.13042
Subject(s) - crithidia , biology , cutaneous leishmaniasis , leishmaniasis , leishmania , kinetoplastida , kinetoplast , leishmania major , microbiology and biotechnology , immunology , protozoa , malaria , parasite hosting , genetics , protozoal disease , dna , world wide web , computer science
Summary Objective Leishmania major has been considered as the main aetiological agent of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Iran. However, there are recent reports about the existence of Crithidia spp in cutaneous lesions in southern Iran. Therefore, this study was designed to decipher some morphological, biological and molecular aspects of this phenomenon. Methods Clinical isolates were obtained from 167 patients with cutaneous ulcers. A set of specific primers based on GAPDH (Glyceraldehyde‐3‐Phosphate Dehydrogenase) gene were used to distinguish between Crithidia and Leishmania genera. For molecular analysis, Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis and Mi‐Seq Illumina platform were applied. Then, morphological analysis and some biological features (including potential growth at 37 °C and the ability of infecting mammalian macrophages) were studied. Results In 92.8% of clinical cases, L. major was the only causative microorganism isolated; in 5.4% of cases, co‐infection of L. major and Crithidia spp. was identified; and in 1.8% of lesions, only Crithidia spp. were found. Conclusion We isolated Crithidia spp. from clinical samples of patients suspected of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Iran, indicating that Crithidia spp. are capable of surviving at human body temperature and infecting macrophage cells. This raises questions on the influence of this phenomenon on pathogenicity, therapeutic outcome and disease control strategies.