Epidemiological Study of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis and Identification of Etiological Species

Background and Cutaneous leishmaniasis is endemic parasitic disease in different regions of the world especially in Iran. Khorasan province is endemic for anthroponootic and zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis with unequal outbreak. Identification of species could have important implications for the disease and reservoirs control and finding the epidemiologic map. There is no study on this protozoa disease in Fariman, northeast Iran. The aim of this study was to determine the protozoa genotyping in this area.
A cross-sectional study was done in 50 suspected cases in Fariman 2015-2016. After light microscope checking, scrapings from all smears were done for DNA extraction and species identification was done using kDNA- PCR.
Among 50 suspected cases, 40 patients (80%) were found positive with direct smears and 42 (84%) were identified by PCR. Leishmania tropica was identified in 13 (31%) and 29 (69%) were infected with Leishmania major. Two negative smears were positive with PCR. The disease mainly involved those aged 11-20 years (28.6%) and the most common site of lesions was hands (38.1%) as ulcerative form (58%). From 13 cases of Leishmania tropica 75% and 25% were in urban and rural districts, respectively. Also, from 29 cases of Leishmania major 17.2% and 82.8% were in urban and rural districts, respectively. This difference was statistically significant (P= 0.004).
Fariman is a zoonotic leishmaniasis foci in northeast Iran. Further studies on disease reservoirs and vectors seems necessary to control and reduce the number of people affected.