| Background & objectives: Zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis is caused by Leishmania infantum, which is transmitted
to humans by bites of phlebotomine sandflies and is one of the most important public health problems in Iran. To
detect and identify the Leishmania parasites and their corresponding vector(s), an investigation was carried out in
Azarshahr County, a new and important focus of the disease in East Azerbaijan province in northwestern Iran
during late April to late October 2010.
Methods: Sandflies were sampled using sticky papers (A4 white paper soaked in castor oil) from inside and
outside of the houses and animal shelters, close to the vegetation and crevices. The head and three last abdomen
segments of the specimens were removed and mounted in Puri’s medium for species identification. The rest of
body was subjected to molecular methods for detection of leishmanial parasites.
Results: Among 400 female sandflies tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of kDNA, ITS1-rDNA, and
CPB genes of the parasite followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), only 2 out of 8
Phlebotomus tobbi were positive to L. infantum parasites.
Conclusion: The results indicated that, P. tobbi was the only species found infected by L.infantum and the principal
vector of the disease agent to human. |