Identification of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis-causing Species Using Semi-Nested PCR in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province During 2013-2019

Cutaneous leishmaniasis or leishmaniasis in Iran is caused by two species of Leishmania parasites including: L. major and L. tropica. In recent years, the disease has been reported in different parts of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province. Due to the huge differences in the type of animal reservoirs and biological carriers, identifying the causative agent can be effective in the necessary planning to control the disease. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to determine the causative species of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer Ahmad province, Iran, by molecular

a retrospective study. Methods The present cross-sectional and retrospective descriptive study was conducted to determine the species of Leishmania, 52 samples of smears stained with Giemsa dye were collected from different laboratories in the cities of the province between 2013 and 2017 and were examined using light microscope for the presence of Leishman's body. After extracting the DNA present on the surface of slides, using specific primers LINR4 and LIN17, the species of Leishmania parasite was identified by PCR method. The data were analyzed using chi-score statistical test.

Out of 52 samples with cutaneous leishmaniasis lesions, 26 (50%) were male and 26 (50%) were female. The mean age of the participants in the study was 23.32 years (with a standard deviation of ±18.42). Out of 52 samples, parasitic amastigotes (Leishman's body) were observed in 36 cases (69.2%) by direct observation using a light microscope and 43 samples (82.7%) were positive for PCR. Infectious species in all residents of Dehdasht and Yasuj were L. major and L. tropica in Gachsaran.

the results of the present study indicated that L.major and L.tropica species were the cause of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Dehdasht, Yasuj, and Gachsaran. Therefore, further studies are suggested to identify vectors and reservoirs of cutaneous leishmaniasis parasites in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province, Iran.