The PCR-RFLP-Based Detection and Identification of the Species Causing Human Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in the Khorasan-Razavi Province, Northeast of Iran.

Background: , the causative agent of anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL), and , which causes zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL), are endemic in Iran.

Methods: Cross-sectional study was designed to identify species in cutaneous leishmaniasis patients who referred to Mashhad Health Centers from 2013 to 2014 using ITS-PCR-RFLP technique. First, physical examinations were performed in all suspected patients and CL cases were confirmed with microscopical examinations. A questionnaire was prepared and completed for each confirmed patient and DNA from each lesion smear was extracted, separately. The ribosomal internal transcribed spacer was amplified with appropriate primers and PCR products were digested by enzyme restrict enzyme.

Results: From all patients, 51 cases (54.3%) were men and 43 of them (45.7%) were women. The most frequent age group was 20-29 years old (27.2%). Hands, face and feet were the most common sites for appearance of skin lesions. All of the 94 cases (100%) tested found to be positive by ITS-PCR-RFLP. Overall, species were identified in all of the 94 lesion smears which 33 (35%) of them were and 61 (65%) of the remained isolates were identified .

Conclusion: Characterization of isolates collected from different parts of Khorasan-Razavi Province showed that is predominant agents of CL, especially in large and medium sized cities such as Mashhad and Shandiz. Moreover, this study revealed that ITS-PCR-RFLP based on our designed primers is a suitable method for species characterization.