Abstract

Background and Objective: Given the Leishmaniasis is endemic in Turkmen Sahra, we aimed to study the contamination of rodents with this disease.

Material and Methods: Seventy-three rodents were collected from three regions (Gonbad, Gomishan and Bandar Turkmen) using live traps. In laboratory, morphometric characteristics were measured and for diagnosis of Leishmaniasis CL, the scratches obtained from their ears were examined by microscopic methods using Giemsa.

Results: The most frequent rodents were Meriones libycu (10.95%), Rattus norvegicus (21.91%), and Mus musculus (67.12%). Eleven (15.06%) of them were infected by cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL).

Conclusion: Because of infection rate, there is a high transmission risk of CL in the studied region.

Keywords: Rodentia; Leishmaniasis; Turkmen Sahra; Meriones; Mus Musculus; Rattus Norvegicus

ABSTRACT

       Background and Objective: Chabahar is in Southern Iran located near the Iran-Pakistan border. Since leishmaniasis is an emerging disease in this region, this study aimed to diagnose the disease and identify different species of Leishmania parasite in the patients referred to the central laboratory.

      Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in 2011-2012 on patients referred to the central laboratory in the city of Chabahar. The sampling of lesions, slide preparation, culture and PCR specific for kinetoplast DNA (kDNA), extracted from the media and slides, were performed. The data collected by a questionnaire were analyzed by the SPSS software.

       Results:  The resulted bands from the 48 tested cutaneous leishmaniasis isolates were compared with the standard strains of Leishmania tropica, L. infantum and L. major. All 48 investigated bands were in the 620bp region, which is related to L. major.

        Conclusion: Since PCR has high sensitivity and specificity, it is recommended to use kDNA (present in a unique organelle called kinetoplast) for the routine diagnosis and treatment of the disease.

ABSTRACT
           Background and objectives: Leishmania major is a flagellated parasitic protozoan that causes cutaneous leishmaniasis. Pentavalent antimony compounds are considered the first-line drugs in the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis. However, the use of these drugs is associated with numerous limitations and side effects. Therefore, there is a need for herbal and natural alternatives for these compounds with fewer side effects. In this study, we evaluated the in vitro activity of methanol extract of Quercus infectoria (oak galls) against promastigotes and amastigotes of L. major.
           Methods: In this experimental study, the effect of 10, 100, 500 and 1000 µg/ml of methanolic extract of oak galls and 100, 500, 1000 and 10000 µg/ml of Glucantime was evaluated against L. major promastigotes using direct cell counting and MTT assay. Moreover, the effect of different concentrations of the extract and Glucantime was investigated on the mean number of amastigotes in macrophages after 24 and 48 hours. Data were analyzed using SPSS 16 and one- way analysis of variance.
           Results: The half-maximal inhibitory concentration of the oak gall extract and Glucantime was 75 µg/ml and 221 µg/ml after 24 hours, respectively. After 24 hours, the mean number of amastigotes per macrophage was lowest at concentrations of 1000 µg/ml of the extract (0.9) and 10000 µg/ml of Glucantime (0.85).
           Conclusion: Considering the inhibition of intracellular and extracellular growth of L. major, the oak gall extract might be used as an efficient and safe agent for treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis.
           KEYWORDS: Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous, Quercus.