| Abstract Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a parasitic disease
caused by Leishmania species. According to the
important role of cellular immunity against VL, this study
was directed to determine the frequency of -607A/C
and -137G/C genotypes on promoter region of interleukin-
18 gene. The study groups included 91 patients with
confirmed history of VL, 106 healthy seronegative, and 79
healthy seropositive individuals. All three groups were
analyzed by amplification refractory mutation system
polymerase chain reaction (ARMS-PCR). The highest rate
of -607/A, and -607/C alleles was observed in seronegative
individuals (66/67 %) and in the patients (72/83 %).
Allele frequency of -607/C is more than -607/A allele in
all groups. In position of -137, frequency of -137/G
allele in all groups was more than -137/C. Statistical
analysis of distribution of genotypes, did not reveal any
significant difference among groups. On the basis of the
results, there was no significant association between VL
and polymorphism of IL-18 promoter. The results of this
study showed that IL-18 gene promoter polymorphisms at
positions -607 and -137 |