Molecular Detection of Leishmania major in Hemiechinus auritus, A Potential Reservoir of Zoonotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Damghan, Iran

Pourmohammadi, Behrad; Mohammadi-Azni, Sadegh

doi:10.18502/jad.v13i3.1542

Cited by 6 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…This favors the use of PCR-HRM, which is characterized by very high sensitivity of detection, especially in field sampling. On the other hand, our results further corroborate previous studies that showed natural Leishmania infection of hedgehogs and suggest its potential role as a reservoir host, not only in Tunisia [9,10] but also in Algeria, where it was first described [8], and recently in Iran [7].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

“…These forms have as respective reservoirs rodents ( Psammomys and Meriones ) and gundies ( Ctenodactylus gundi ) [ 4 , 6 ]. Recently, hedgehogs were identified as potential reservoirs of L. major in Iran [ 7 ]. A few years ago, in 2014, these animals were reported to be infected by L. major in both Atelerix algirus and Paraechinus aethiopicus in Algeria [ 8 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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High-resolution melting analysis identifies reservoir hosts of zoonotic Leishmania parasites in Tunisia

et al. 2022

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Background Leishmaniasis is endemic in Tunisia and presents with different clinical forms, caused by the species Leishmania infantum, Leishmania major, and Leishmania tropica. The life cycle of Leishmania is complex and involves several phlebotomine sand fly vectors and mammalian reservoir hosts. The aim of this work is the development and evaluation of a high-resolution melting PCR (PCR-HRM) tool to detect and identify Leishmania parasites in wild and domestic hosts, constituting confirmed (dogs and Meriones rodents) or potential (hedgehogs) reservoirs in Tunisia. Methods Using in vitro-cultured Leishmania isolates, PCR-HRM reactions were developed targeting the 7SL RNA and HSP70 genes. Animals were captured or sampled in El Kef Governorate, North West Tunisia. DNA was extracted from the liver, spleen, kidney, and heart from hedgehogs (Atelerix algirus) (n = 3) and rodents (Meriones shawi) (n = 7) and from whole blood of dogs (n = 12) that did not present any symptoms of canine leishmaniasis. In total, 52 DNA samples were processed by PCR-HRM using both pairs of primers. Results The results showed melting curves enabling discrimination of the three Leishmania species present in Tunisia, and were further confirmed by Sanger sequencing. Application of PCR-HRM assays on reservoir host samples showed that overall among the examined samples, 45 were positive, while seven were negative, with no Leishmania infection. Meriones shawi were found infected with L. major, while dogs were infected with L. infantum. However, co-infections with L. major/L. infantum species were detected in four Meriones specimens and in all tested hedgehogs. In addition, multiple infections with the three Leishmania species were found in one hedgehog specimen. Sequence analyses of PCR-HRM products corroborated the Leishmania species found in analyzed samples. Conclusions The results of PCR-HRM assays applied to field specimens further support the possibility of hedgehogs as reservoir hosts of Leishmania. In addition, we showed their usefulness in the diagnosis of canine leishmaniasis, specifically in asymptomatic dogs, which will ensure a better evaluation of infection extent, thus improving elaboration of control programs. This PCR-HRM method is a robust and reliable tool for molecular detection and identification of Leishmania and can be easily implemented in epidemiological surveys in endemic regions. Graphical Abstract

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

High-resolution melting analysis identifies reservoir hosts of zoonotic Leishmania parasites in Tunisia

et al. 2022

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“…Cyber-attacks are also highly likely due to the lack of well-established computer infrastructures in the healthcare centers. In addition, Damghan is a biologically vulnerable area in terms of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis due to being home to the major resources of the disease such as rodents (26). Also, the evidence indicates an epidemic occurrence of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in rural areas of Damghan in 2009, where on average more than 100 new cutaneous cases occur annually (27).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Risk factors threatening health care facilities in disasters and emergencies

Pourmohammadi

Heydari

Fatemi

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Background: Iran is exposed to a wide variety of natural and man-made hazards. Health care facilities can play a significant role in providing lifesaving measures in the minutes and hours immediately following impact or exposure. The aim of this study was to determine the risk factors threatening the preparedness of health care facilities in disasters and emergencies. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Damghan, Semnan province in 2019. The samples consist of all the eleven health care facilities which are located in Damghan County. A developed checklist including 272 questions in four sections; understanding threatening hazards, functional, structural and non-structural vulnerability of health care facilities was used to collect the data. The data were analyzed using STATA 11 software. The risk factors were determined and prioritized based on mean and total vulnerability score. Results: The results showed that the health care facilities were exposed to 22 different natural and man-made hazards throughout the county. The overall preparedness of the health care centers was 45%. The average functional, structural, and nonstructural vulnerability was assessed at 40.58%, 45.12%, and 50%, respectively. Conclusion: The findings of this study showed an average preparedness of the health care facilities in the studied area. Conducting the mitigation measures is necessary for reducing the structural and non-structural vulnerability. Disaster educational programs and exercises are recommended among the health staff in order to increase the functional capacity and enhance the preparedness in the HCFs at time of emergencies and disasters.

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“…The city is situated between Shahroud and Semnan Cities and is bounded on the mountainous areas in the north (Alborz Mountains) with 9.8 °C and the plain areas in the south (Kaveer Desert) with 23.5 °C average temperatures. The annual rainfall and average temperature of the city are about 120mm and 16.3 °C respectively ( 21 ). The city has generally a warm weather in summer and cold in winter.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Molecular Detection of Leishmania Infection in Phlebotomine Sand Flies from an Endemic Focus of Zoonotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Iran

Mohammadi-Azni¹,

Kalantari²,

Pourmohammadi³

2023

JAD

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Background: Due to the outbreak of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL), a disease caused by Leishmania major and mainly transmitted by Phlebotomus papatasi, in Damghan City, Semnan Province, the probable vectors of the disease were investigated in the city from 20 March 2016 to 20 January 2018. Methods: Sand flies were collected from indoors and outdoors biweekly by sticky traps in different parts of the city. The trapped sand flies were stored in 70% ethanol. They were identified and checked for Leishmania infections using nested-PCR method and specific primers; CSB1XR, CSB2XF, LiR, and 13Z. Results: Overall, 1862 phlebotomine sand flies of Ph. papatasi (48.8%), Ph. andrejevi (8.3%), Ph. caucasicus (7.7), Ph. mongolensis (2%), Ph. sergenti (1.2%), Ph. alexandri (0.7%), Sergentomyia murgabiensis sintoni (29.3%), and Se. sumbarica (2%) were collected indoors (31.1%) and outdoors (68.9%). The highest and lowest numbers of collected sand flies were belonging to Ph. papatasi (48.8%) and Ph. alexandri (0.7%) respectively. 2.2% of the examined sand flies were shown to be infected with L. major and all were belonging to Ph. papatasi. Conclusion: This study confirms the report of Ph. papatasi infection with L. major and also the existence of Ph. sergenti and Ph. alexandri, the potential vectors of L. tropica and L. infantum respectively, in Damghan City. According to the findings, it is necessary for health officials to plan and take action to prevent the occurrence of ZCL epidemic in the city as well as the occurrence of other forms of leishmaniasis.

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Molecular Detection of Leishmania major in Hemiechinus auritus, A Potential Reservoir of Zoonotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Damghan, Iran

Cited by 6 publications

References 23 publications

High-resolution melting analysis identifies reservoir hosts of zoonotic Leishmania parasites in Tunisia

High-resolution melting analysis identifies reservoir hosts of zoonotic Leishmania parasites in Tunisia

Risk factors threatening health care facilities in disasters and emergencies

Molecular Detection of Leishmania Infection in Phlebotomine Sand Flies from an Endemic Focus of Zoonotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Iran

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