Application of superior enzymatic systems for characterization of causative agents of visceral leishmaniasis (kala-azar) in Iran using isoenzyme electrophoresis

Background and Visceral leishmaniasis (Kala-azar) is one of the parasitic zoonotic diseases which is caused by Leishmania donovani complex parasites. Thus, the aim of this study is the application of different enzymatic systems for discrimination species and strains visceral leishmaniasis agent. In this experimental study, reference strains of Leishmania infatum, Leishmania major, Leishmania tropica in addition, the leishmania parasites isolated from bone marrow of subjects and internal organs of dogs infected to visceral leishmaiasis (VL) were inoculated on RPMI + FBS 10 % medium for mass cultivation. Then, using electrophoresis on polyacrilamid gel, six enzymatic systems including GPI, PGM, MDH, G6PD, 6PGD and NH2 were examined in order that identification of species and strains of the isolates and thus finding the appropriate enzymatic systems for discrimination of these compared with reference strains. Isoenzymatic profile of six enzymatic systems mentioned above for these isolates were compared with reference strains and also relative migration were calculated. Finally, the results were showed that only five enzymatic systems, except 6PGD, had discriminated ability of different species. In the present study, GPI and G6PD enzymes had the most heterogeneity while NH2 enzyme had the most homogeneity. Moreover, PGM, GPI and MDH were highly active enzymes.