Hejazi Seyed Hossein; Mokhtarian Kobra; Eslami Gilda; Salehi Rasoul; Mohammad Ali Nilforoushzade; Leila Shirani; Sedigheh Saberi
Volume 10, Issue 3 , 2007, , Pages 229-235
Abstract
Background and aim: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a health problem of many countries in tropical and subtropical regions including Iran. Isfahan province is one of the foci of CL with the highest prevalence in Iran. This study was done to identify the species of Leishmania isolated from the patients ...
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Background and aim: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a health problem of many countries in tropical and subtropical regions including Iran. Isfahan province is one of the foci of CL with the highest prevalence in Iran. This study was done to identify the species of Leishmania isolated from the patients in Ghohab Mohammad Abad, located in southwest of Isfahan which is a new foci of CL. Identification of the causative agent of CL is required to plan control measures and therapeutic strategies.Materials and methods: All residents of the village (18,477 individuals) were visited and interviewed to recruit patients with active lesion of CL. Direct samples and culture were taken from the suspected lesions for isolation and identification of Leishmania species. Identification was performed using kDNA minicircles in a PCR manner. Results: Forty three patients with suspected CL lesion were recruited and 25 parasitologically proven cases were identified. Eighteen isolates were used for identification and 7 isolates were excluded due to fungi contamination. All 18 isolates were characterized by PCR amplification to be Leishmania major.Conclusion: The etiologic agent of the CL in the region was identified to be L.major. Larger studies are needed to confirm that L. major is the rule etiologic agent of CL in this region.
S Shamsedini; S Rajab Alian; M Mirzaei; M Brofei
Volume 9, Issue 2 , 2006, , Pages 173-178
Abstract
Background and aim: Leishmaniasis is a zoonotic disease with wide clinical diversity caused by protozoan parasite belonging to the genus of Leishmania. Treatment of human leishmaniases are still based on pentavalent antimonials but their toxicity and emerging resistance are problematic. This study was ...
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Background and aim: Leishmaniasis is a zoonotic disease with wide clinical diversity caused by protozoan parasite belonging to the genus of Leishmania. Treatment of human leishmaniases are still based on pentavalent antimonials but their toxicity and emerging resistance are problematic. This study was performed to assess the effect of Mimosa tenuiflora extract on L. tropica promastigotes to find potential new therapeutic method against leishmaniasis.Materials and Methods: This study has been based on two in vitro methods: methyl thiazole tetrazolium (MTT) assay and counting parasites, using 10, 100, 500, 1000 micg/ml concentrations of plant extract.Results: Different concentrations of M. Tenuiflora extract have different effects on multiplication of Leishmania protozoa in culture medium. Concentration of 1000 and 500 micg/ml suppressed multiplication of promastigotes but at a concentration of 100 micg/ml it accelerated growth of promastigotes.Conclusion: This finding suggested that M. tenuiflora extract contains both inhibitory and acceleratory effects on Leishmania growth in vitro.
M Nateghi Rostami; H Keshavarz; A Miramin Mohammadi; A Khamesi Pour
Volume 8, Issue 5 , 2005, , Pages 363-372
SH Hejazi; P Nasrifar; S Jamali; AA Jahangir Nezhad; A Khamesipour
Volume 4, Issue 1 , 2000, , Pages 7-11
Abstract
Background: Isfahan is one of the major foci of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Iran. According to the epidemiological studies, both urban and rural forms have been reported in Isfahan. Accurate identification and characterization of Leishmania is essential for the control of the disease. Several different ...
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Background: Isfahan is one of the major foci of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Iran. According to the epidemiological studies, both urban and rural forms have been reported in Isfahan. Accurate identification and characterization of Leishmania is essential for the control of the disease. Several different molecular techniques for Leishmania identification are developed including use of monoclonal antibodies. Objective: In the present study specific monoclonal antibodies against L.major (T1, T9), L.tropica (T10, T11) and L.donovani (D2) were used to identify and characterize the leishmania parasites isolated from patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis in Isfahan. Patients and Methods: Samples were obtained from borders of lesions suspicious of leishmaniasis in 298 patients, stained with Giemsa and cultured in NNN and RPMI 1640 media supplemented with 10% fetal colf serum. The promastigotes were then purified, counted and used as antigen in ELISA test. Results: Mass production of promastigotes was successful in 120 cases. L.major was identified as the causative agent of the disease in 100 cases and L.tropica in 8 patients. In 12 cases the results were inconclusive as the antigens reacted with either 2 or 3 specific monoclonal antibodies. Conclusion: L.major is the most common cause of leishmaniasis in Isfahan.