Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Emergence of a new focus of visceral leishmaniasis due to Leishmania infantum in Golestan Province, north-eastern of Iran

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Journal of Parasitic Diseases Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Over the last decade, a few cases of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) have been reported in some districts of the province of Golestan, in north-eastern Iran. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of Leishmania infantum infection among humans and domestic dogs by using direct agglutination test (DAT) and PCR assays in the eastern zone of the province. Between 2011 and 2012, blood samples were randomly collected from 450 humans and 50 domestic dogs, in the eastern zone of Golestan Province including 7 villages from Marave-tappeh district where new cases of human VL had been recorded there. Each of these samples was tested for anti-Leishmania antibodies, in DAT, and for L. infantum kinetoplast DNA on whole blood, in PCR-based assays. A total of 450 human samples, 6 (1.33 %) were found seropositive and 13 (2.8 %) was found PCR-positive. Of the 50 dog samples, 16 (32 %) were found seropositive and 15 (30 %) were PCR-positive. All PCR-positive dogs were found seropositive except one as well as 6 (46.2 %) PCR-positive humans were also found seropositive. Moreover, the species of L. infantum was detected in all PCR–positive samples. The high prevalence of VL in the study areas offer it has emerged as an endemic focus in the province. Further investigations on the vectors, reservoirs and human population are recommended.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alborzi A, Pourabbas B, Shahian F, Mardaneh J, Pouladfar GhR, Ziaeyan M (2008) Detection of Leishmania infantum kinetoplast DNA in the whole blood of asymptomatic individuals by PCR-ELISA and comparison with other infection markers in endemic areas, southern Iran. Am J Trop Med Hyg 79:839–842

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Arias JR, Monteiro PS, Zicker F (1996) The reemergence of visceral leishmaniasis in Brazil. Emerg Infect Dis 2(2):145–146

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ashford RW (2000) The leishmaniases as emerging and reemerging zoonoses. Int J Parasitol 30:1269–1281

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bossolasco S, Gaiera G, Olchini D, Gulletta M, Martello L, Bestetti A (2003) Real-time PCR assay for clinical management of human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients with visceral leishmaniasis. J Clin Microbiol 41:5080–5084

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Caldas AJMBB, Costa J, Aquino D, Silva AAM, Barral-Netto M, Barral A (2006) Are there differences in clinical and laboratory parameters between children and adults with American leishmaniasis? Acta Trop 97:252–258

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cascio A, Calattini S, Colomba C, Scalamonga C, Galazzi M, Pizzuto M, Camilli R, Gramiccia M, Titone L, Corbellino M, Antinori S (2002) Polymerase chain reaction in the diagnosis and prognosis of Mediterranean visceral leishmaniasis in immunocompetent children. Pediatrics 109:1–5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Desjeux P (2001) The increase in risk factors for leishmaniasis worldwide. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 95:239–243

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Desjeux P (2004) Leishmaniasis: current situation and new perspectives. Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis 27:305–318

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Edrissian GhH, Ahanchin AR, Gharachahi AM (1993) Seroepidemiological studies of visceral leishmaniasis and search for animal reservoirs in Fars Province, southern Iran. Iran J Med Sci 18:99–105

    Google Scholar 

  • Edrissian GH, Nadim A, Alborzi AV, Ardehali S (1999) Visceral leishmaniasis: the Iranian experiences. Arch Iran Med 1:22–26

    Google Scholar 

  • Fakhar M, Mohebali M, Barani M (2004) Identification of endemic focus of Kala-azar and seroepidemiological study of visceral Leishmania infection in human and canine in Qom Province. Armaghan-Danesh 9:43–52 (In Persian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Fakhar M, Motazedian MH, Asgari Q, Mohebali M, Mehrabani D (2006) A new endemic focus of visceral leishmaniosis in southern Iran. Armaghane-Danesh 42:103–114 (In Persian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Fakhar M, Motazedian MH, Hatam GR, Asgar Q, Kalantari M, Mohebali M (2008) Asymptomatic human carriers of Leishmania infantum: possible reservoirs for Mediterranean visceral leishmaniasis in southern Iran. Ann Trop Med Parasitol 102:577–583

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fakhar M, Motazedian MH, Hatam GhR, Asgari Q, Monabati A, Keighobadi M (2012a) Comparative performance of DAT, IFAT, PCR and bone marrow aspiration methods for diagnosis of Mediterranean visceral leishmaniasis (MVL). Afr J Microbiol Res 6:5777–5781

    Google Scholar 

  • Fakhar M, Motazedian MH, Kalantari M, Asgari Q (2012b) Asymptomatic domestic dogs are carriers of Leishmania infantum: possible reservoirs host for human visceral leishmaniasis in southern Iran. Comp Clin Pathol 21:801–807

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gao CH, Wang JY, Yang YT, Bao YF (2006) Study on PCR method for detecting the asymptomatic infection of Leishmania infantum. Zhongguo Ji Sheng Chong Xue Yu Ji Sheng Chong Bing Za Zhi 24:92–96

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Harith A, Salappendel RJ, Reiter I, Knapen F, Korte P, Huigen E, Kolk RHG (1989) Application of a direct agglutination test for detection of specific anti-leishmania antibodies in the canine reservoir. J Clin Microbiol 27:2252–2257

    PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lachaud L, Chabbert E, Dubessay P, Reynes J, Lamothe J, Bastien P (2001) Comparison of various sample preparation methods for PCR diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis using peripheral blood. J Clin Microbiol 39:613–617

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Maurya R, Singh RK, Kumar B, Salotra P, Rai M, Sundar S (2005) Evaluation of PCR for diagnosis of Indian kala-azar and assessment of cure. J Clin Microbiol 43:3038–3041

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mazloumi Gavgani AS, Mohite H, Edrissian GH, Mohebali M, Davies CR (2002) Domestic dog ownership in Iran is a risk factor for human infection with Leishmania infantum. Am J Trop Med Hyg 67:511–515

    Google Scholar 

  • Mohebali M, Hamzavi Y, Edrissian GH, Forouzani A (2001) Seroepidemiological study of visceral leishmaniasis among humans and animal reservoirs in Bushehr Province. Islamic Republic of Iran. East Mediterr Health J 7:912–917

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mohebali M, Edrissian GH, Nadim A, Hajjaran H, Akhoundi B, Hooshmand B, Zarei Z, Arshi S, Mirsamadi N, Manouchehri-Naeini K, Mamishi S, Sanati AA, Moshfe AA, Charehdar S, Fakhar M (2006) Application of direct agglutination test (DAT) for the diagnosis and seroepidemiological studies of visceral leishmaniasis in Iran. Iran J Parasitol 1:15–25

    Google Scholar 

  • Mohebali M, Edrissian GhH, Shirzadi MR, Akhoundi B, Hajjaran H, Zarei Z, Molaei S, Sharifi I, Mamishi S, Mahmoudvand H, Torabi V, Moshfe AA, Malmasi AA, Motazedian MH, Fakhar M (2011) An observational study on the current distribution of visceral leishmaniasis in different geographical zones of Iran and implication to health policy. Travel Med Infect Dis 9:67–74

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Moshfea AA, Mohebali M, Edrissiana GhH, Zarei Z, Akhoundi B, Kazemid B, Jamshidi Sh, Mahmoodi M (2009) Canine visceral leishmaniasis: asymptomatic infected dogs as a source of L. infantum infection. Acta Trop 112:101–105

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Motazedian H, Karamian M, Noyes HA, Ardehali S (2002) DNA extraction and amplification of Leishmania from archived, Giemsa-stained slides, for the diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis by PCR. Ann Trop Med Parasitol 96:31–34

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rathor HR (1996) The role of vectors in emerging and re-emerging diseases in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. East Mediterr J 2:61–67

    Google Scholar 

  • Redhu NS, Dey A, Balooni V, Singh S (2006) Leishmania-HIV co-infection: an emerging problem in India. AIDS 20:1213–1215

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Riera C, Fisa R, Udina M, Gállego M, Portus M (2004) Detection of Leishmania infantum cryptic infection in asymptomatic blood donors living in an endemic area (Eivissa, Balearic Islands, Spain) by different diagnostic methods. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 98:102–110

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Saeedian AH (2009) Encyclopedia of the land and population of Golestan Province. Aram Press, Tehran

    Google Scholar 

  • Sharma U, Redhu NS, Mathur P, Singh S (2007) Re-emergence of visceral leishmaniasis in Gujarat, India. J Vector Borne Dis 44:230–232

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Singh S (2006) New developments in diagnosis of leishmaniasis. Indian J Med Res 123:311–330

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sundar S, Rai M (2002) Laboratory diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis. Clin Diag Lab Immunol 9:951–958

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • World Health Organization (WHO) (2000) Leishmaniasis and Leishmania/HIV Co-infection. Document WHO/CDS/CSR/ISR/2000.1. WHO, Geneva

  • World Health Organization (WHO) (2010a) Technical Report Series. Control of leishmaniases. Report of a meeting of the WHO expert committee on the control of leishmaniases, Geneva

  • World Health Organization (WHO) (2010b) First WHO report on neglected tropical diseases: working to overcome the global impact of neglected tropical diseases WHO/HTM/NTD/2010.1, pp 91–96

  • Yaari A, Jaffe CL, Garty BZ (2004) Viseceral leishmaniasis in Israel, 1960–2000. IMAJ 6:205–208

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The author’s are grateful to the staff of the Marave-tappeh and Kalaleh Health Centers for their kindly cooperation to perform this study. They also would like to thank of financially supported by Vice Chancellors for Research of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences (project number: 90-149).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mahdi Fakhar.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Fakhar, M., Asadi Kia, A., Gohardehi, S. et al. Emergence of a new focus of visceral leishmaniasis due to Leishmania infantum in Golestan Province, north-eastern of Iran. J Parasit Dis 38, 255–259 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12639-013-0307-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12639-013-0307-4

Keywords

Navigation