Cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania tropica in Bikaner, India: parasite identification and characterization using molecular and immunologic tools.

Full Abstract

Identification of new foci of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), along with reports of Leishmania donovani causing the disease, is an issue of concern. Clinico-epidemiologic analysis of 98 cases in the endemic regions of Rajasthan state, India, suggested the preponderance of infection in men (62.24%) compared with women (37.75%). Species characterization by internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), kDNA-PCR, and immunofluorescence assay established L. tropica as the causative organism. When applied directly to 32 clinical samples, kDNA PCR had a sensitivity of 96.6%, whereas ITS1 PCR had a sensitivity of 82.75%, thus facilitating diagnosis and species identification. Either parasite culture or direct microscopy alone detected 48.2% and 65.5% of the positive samples, respectively, whereas culture and microscopy together improved overall sensitivity to 89.3% (25/28). Except for the kDNA PCR, all other assays were 100% specific. This study provides the first comprehensive molecular and immunologic studies of CL in India.

Author information

Author/s: Kumar, Rajesh (R); Bumb, Ram Avtar (RA); Ansari, Nasim A (NA); Mehta, Rajesh D (RD); Salotra, Poonam (P);

Affiliation: Institute of Pathology (ICMR), Safdarjung Hospital Campus, New Delhi, India.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene (Am J Trop Med Hyg), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2007-May; vol 76 (issue 5) : pp 896-901

Dates: Created 2007/05/09; Completed 2007/06/28;

PMID: 17488912, status: MEDLINE (last retrieved date: 2/18/2009)

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