Leishmaniasis in Turkey: molecular characterization of Leishmania from human and canine clinical samples

WOS: 000270734300012PubMed ID: 19737374Human leishmaniasis, both visceral and cutaneous, and canine leishmaniasis have been reported in Turkey for centuries. However, the advent of new diagnostic tools during the last 30 years has led to the recognition that leishmaniasis is an important public health problem throughout the country. In most disease foci both canine and human leishmaniases exist together and identification of parasite species causing these diseases is a pre-requisite for understanding disease epidemiology. A total of 109 samples obtained from human and canine leishmaniasis cases were examined using internal transcribed spacer 1 PCR followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. Our results indicate that two species, Leishmania tropica and Leishmania infantum, are primarily responsible for cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis, respectively, in Turkey. However, a new focus of human cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by L. infantum in Hatay region is described. This finding further stresses the importance of Leishmania species molecular characterization in prescribing appropriate therapy and understanding the disease's transmission in different endemic foci.Ege University FundsEge University [2003/TIP/017]We thank to Dr Ayse Yetkin Caner for helping to the DNA extraction, Dr Mehmet Yaman for sending the CanL Leishmania strain from Hatay province. This publication counts towards the partial fulfillment of PhD degree requirements of Abedelmajeed Nasereddin. Charles L. Jaffe holds the Michael and Penny Feiwel Chair in Dermatology. This work is partially supported by Ege University Funds (No: 2003/TIP/017)