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Identification of Leishmania in Rodents and their Hard Ticks using ITS1- PCR in Golestan Province, North of Iran
Farideh Tohidi1 , Abazar Nejati2 , Ayeneh Hagieh Pangh3 , Zeinolabedin Mohammadi4 , Mohammad Reza Ghanbari5
1- Infectious Diseases Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran. , tohidi66@yahoo.ca
2- Student of Medicine, School of Medicine, Golestan University of Medical Sciences Gorgan, Iran.
3- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Golestan University, Gorgan, Iran.
4- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Golestan University, Gorgan, Iran. (Ph.D in Animal Biology).
5- Department of Public Health, School of Health, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran.
Abstract:   (776 Views)
Background: Leishmaniasis is a zoonotic disease between humans and animals that this disease cause by leishmania parasite. This parasite is transmitted through the bite of the female sandfly. Rodents and canids serve as reservoir hosts, while humans serve as hosts for this parasitic disease. Given the crucial role of rodents as reservoirs for zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis in the endemic regions of Golestan province, we aimed to investigate the presence of leishmania in rodents and their hard ticks in Agh Qala and Inche Broun areas of Golestan Province.
Methods: This study is a descriptive cross-sectional study. It involved the analysis 28 of liver and 28 of the skin samples from 28 rodents and their isolated hard ticks for the presence of Leishmania parasites using the ITS1-PCR method.
Results: In this study, 6 species were identified among the 28 rodents caught in the Agh Qala and Inche Broun areas of Golestan Province, with the dominant species being Rhombomys opimus, accounting for 75% of the rodents. Through PCR analysis, 13 rodents (46.4%) and 15 hard ticks (10.7%) were positive for Leishmania major parasites. Interestingly, it was observed that 69% of the rodents infected with Leishmania parasites were female. Most rodents infected with Leishmania were found to inhabit the Inche Broun area. The majority of ticks belonged to the genus Ripicephalus spp., Ornithonysus Bacoti and Ixodes ricinus.
Conclusion: Given the positivity of Leishmania parasites in some ticks isolated from infected animals, it is important to consider the potential epidemiological role of hard ticks in the transmission of rodent leishmaniasis.
 
Keywords: Leishmania, Rodents, Hard ticks, Golestan province, ITS1-PCR
Full-Text [PDF 439 kb]   (245 Downloads)    
Research Article: Research Article | Subject: Parasitology
Received: 2024/12/3 | Accepted: 2025/07/26
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