Molecular Identification and Phylogenetic Analysis of  Leishmania major Isolated from Zoonotic Cutaneous  Leishmaniasis Foci in Northeast Iran

Seyed Aliakbar  Shamsian; Hamed  Mirizadeh; Ghodratollah Salehi  Sangani; Mahdi Zarean; Fariba  Berenji; Mohsen  Najjari; Abdolmajid  Fata; Elham  Serki; Vahideh Tahreian; Bibi Razieh  Hosseini Farash

doi:10.18502/ijpa.v18i3.13752

Seyed Aliakbar Shamsian Department of Parasitology and Mycology School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Science, Mashhad, Iran
Hamed Mirizadeh Department of Parasitology and Mycology School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Science, Mashhad, Iran
Ghodratollah Salehi Sangani Department of Parasitology and Mycology School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Science, Mashhad, Iran
Mahdi Zarean Department of Parasitology and Mycology School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Science, Mashhad, Iran
Fariba Berenji Department of Parasitology and Mycology School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Science, Mashhad, Iran
Mohsen Najjari Department of Parasitology and Mycology School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Science, Mashhad, Iran
Abdolmajid Fata Department of Parasitology and Mycology School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Science, Mashhad, Iran
Elham Serki Department of Virology & Microbiology Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Science, Mashhad, Iran
Vahideh Tahreian Laboratory of Molecular Reference and Tuberculosis in the Northeast of Iran, Dr. Ali Shariati Hospital, Mashhad Univer-sity of Medical Science, Mashhad, Iran
Bibi Razieh Hosseini Farash Department of Parasitology and Mycology School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Science, Mashhad, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijpa.v18i3.13752

Keywords: Leishmania; Zoonotic cutaneous leish-maniasis; Phylogeny; Northeastern; Iran

Abstract

Background: Epidemiological studies, classification and genetic studies of Leishmania species are effective in treatment, control and prevention in endemic areas. We aimed to investigate the genetic diversity and phylogeny of Leishmania in Zoonotic foci located in northeastern Iran using nagt gene for the first time.

Methods: DNA of 100 confirmed positive slides collected from the health centers of Sarkhes, Darghez, Fariman, Esfarayen, and Sabzevar were extracted during 2020-2021. The partial sequence of kDNA was amplified to identify the species. Twenty-five DNA samples were randomly subjected to amplify by nagt gene primes and were sequenced. The sequences were aligned with reference sequences in National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). Then, the genetic similarities of the sequences were checked using Clustalx2.1 software and the phylogenetic tree was drawn by Mega 7 software.

Results: All the positive samples were diagnosed as L. major. Approximately, half of the sequences of species were similar to two reference genes JX103550.1:404-712 L. major Esfahan and KX759012.1:568-807 L. Major Ilam (more than 90% similarity). According to the results of the phylogeny tree, the closest genotype to our study samples was JX103550.1:404-712 L. major Esfahan.

Conclusion: The most causative agent CL in these areas was L. major. The genetic diversity of L. major was high such as other zoonotic foci in Iran. Due to the high similarity of the strains in the study areas with the strains of Isfahan and Ilam, similar control and prevention methods is suggested in these areas.