IDENTIFICATION OF Leishmania PARASITES IN CLINICALSAMPLES OBTAINED FROM CUTANEOUS LEISHMANIASISPATIENTS USING PCR TECHNIQUE IN IRAQ

Abdullah   Qader; Mushriq   Abood; Tural Bakir

doi:10.24996/ijs.2009.50.1.%g

Authors

Abdullah Qader Al-Nahrain University, Biotechnology Research Center
Mushriq Abood Foundation of Technicl Education, College of Health and Medical Technology
Tural Bakir Al-Nahrain University, Biotechnology Research Center

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24996/ijs.2009.50.1.%25g

Keywords:

Leishmania, CLINICALSAMPLES

Abstract

Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL) is an endemic disease and one of the major
health problems in Iraq. Leishmania major is confirmed as the causative agent of CL
in this region. In Al- Qadessia province alone, the recorded total cases of CL were
618 from 2005-2007. We aimed to determine the effectiveness of a polymerase
chain reaction (PCR) technique for identification and differentiation of the
Leishmania parasite in clinical samples. The lesion exudates were collected from 27
suspected patients (12 males and 15 females) and used for smear slide preparations,
culture on NNN medium then DNA isolation. The isolated DNA was amplified by
PCR, including primers selected on repetitive kDNA for identification of a
Leishmania subgenus, and the amplified DNA electrophoreses was done. The PCR
results showed that only L. major exists. Our results indicate that the PCR technique
is sensitive and specific for the detection and differentiation of agents of CL in this
area.