Anthroponotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Torghabeh - Shandiz, a Region with Rural Texture (A Molecular Study)

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is endemic in many parts of Iran including Mashhad, center of Khorasan-Razavi province.. The main aim of our study was to prepare leishmaniasis map of Khorasan. In the present study, the situation of CL in Torghabeh – Shandiz, a district located in southwest of Mashhad, has been investigated by molecular methods..Patients and The study population included 164 people who had at least one skin lesion suspected to CL and referred to the health centers of the district. DNA extraction was performed by scraping the smears and using kit. DNA replication pattern of Leishmania produced bands for L. major / 615 bp and for L. tropica/744 bp using the selected primers.. Of 164 samples obtained from the skin lesions of the patients referred to the Torghabe - Shandiz health centers, Leishmania DNA was isolated from 136 smears by PCR method. All of the positive samples were recognized to be L. tropica.. Torghabeh - Shandiz district with a rural texture is endemic for Anthroponotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (ACL). Further studies are recommended to discover the vectors and probable reservoirs in these areas..