Evaluative Assay of Nuclear and Mitochondrial Genes to Diagnose Species in Clinical Specimens.

Background: Leishmaniasis as an emerging and reemerging disease is increasing worldwide with high prevalence and new incidence in recent years. For epidemiological investigation and accurate identification of species, three nuclear and mitochondrial genes (ITS-rDNA, Hsp70, and Cyt ) were employed and analyzed from clinical samples in three important Zoonotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (ZCL) foci of Iran.

Methods: In this cross-sectional/descriptive study conducted in 2014-15, serous smears of lesions were directly prepared from suspected patients of ZCL in Turkmen in northeast, Abarkouh in center and Shush district in southwest of Iran.

Assessment of nuclear and mitochondrial genes in precise identification and analysis of genetic polymorphisms for the evaluation of Leishmania parasites.

The polymorphism and genetic diversity of Leishmania genus has status under discussion depending on many items such as nuclear and/or mitochondrial genes, molecular tools, Leishmania species, geographical origin, condition of micro-environment of Leishmania parasites and isolation of Leishmania from clinical samples, reservoir host and vectors. The genetic variation of Leishmania species (L. major, L.