Abstract

Introduction: Leishmaniasis is one the six most important diseases in tropical areas. Study and research on various aspects of it is recommended and supported by the World Health Organization. Broom tail rodents (Rodentia: Muridae: Gerbillinae) are the most important reservoir host of parasite causes wet cutaneous leishmaniasis (or Zoonotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (ZCL) disease) means leishmania major. Different species of rodents from different regions of Iran play role in maintenance of the parasite. The purpose of this research is molecular study of cutaneous leishmaniasis human reservoirs and infections in Bastak County, Hormozgan Province, Iran.

Materials and methods: Live traps were used to catch rodents. The rodents were anesthetized with chloroform in the field and four slides were prepared from earlobe of each animal by sanding method and their morphometric characteristics were completely measured and recorded. Rodent abdomen was opened with blade and the liver and the spleen of each sample were kept in a numbered container containing 70% ethanol. The prepared slides were examined with microscopic (Giemsa staining) and molecular methods. Finally, using Nested-PCR method, they were evaluated using species-specific primers (LIN R4, LIN 17, LIN 19).

Result: A total of 108 rodents from five species of three different genera were collected. Merionespersicus species with 26.9% was the predominant species. A contamination in T. indica species and two cases of contamination in two samples of female M. hurrianae were observed. L. major species was also identified.

Conclusion: Broom tail rodents are abundance and have relatively high diversity in Bastak County. They live in proximity to human dwellings. Tateraindica and Merioneshurrianae species are introduced as the disease reservoir hosts in this area and use of molecular and PCR methods provides the possibility of faster diagnosis of parasite species.

Keywords: Cutaneous leishmaniasis; Nested-PCR; Tateraindica; Merioneshurrianae. L. major