Value of different diagnostic assay for detection of Leishmania parasite in dermal clinical samples
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36320/ajb/v18.i1.22796Keywords:
Leishmania, diagnosis, ITS1 geneAbstract
Abstract: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a widespread disease in many countries, including Iraq. The current study aimed to assess in Salah Al-Din Governorate, for comparison various methods for diagnosis the infection with Leishmania parasite which causing CL and comparing their sensitivity and efficiency. A total of 102 samples were collected from patients attended to the Tikrit teaching hospital in Salah Al-Din Governorate through the period from September 2024 till March 2025. The patients from both sexes, ages ≤ 2-75 years. Initially, clinical diagnosis was performed by a specialist physician, followed by taking blood from the central and edge of lesion for staining smears with Giemsa. Also, a third portion of aspirated blood was preserved for molecular analysis. The results showed a 100% success rate for clinical diagnosis, while microscopic diagnosis, considered the gold standard, achieved a higher success rate (97.32%). A lower percentage of infection was recorded using molecular diagnosis for ITS1 gene (73.53%). The results of the current study confirm that the molecular method should be combined with clinical diagnosis and microscopic examination to increase the accuracy of leishmaniasis diagnosis. The present study recommends future research using different DNA extraction methods for ITS1 gene since some of samples were negative for this gene. However, the study recommends future comparative research to evaluate the efficiency of the kDNA genefor identification the species of Leishmania causing CL in endemic areas.
Downloads
References
1. World Health Organization. (2020). Control of neglected tropical diseases. WHO. Retrieved December 14, 2020, from http://www.who.int/neglected_diseases/diseases/en/
2. BilgicTemel, A., Murrell, D. F., & Uzun, S. (2019). Cutaneous leishmaniasis: A neglected disfiguring disease for women. International Journal of Women’s Dermatology, 5(3), 158165. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijwd.2019.01.002
3. Izadi, S., Mirhendi, H., Jalalizand, N., Khodadadi, H., Mohebali, M., Nekoeian, S., Jamshidi, A., & Ghatee, M. A. (2016). Molecular epidemiological survey of cutaneous leishmaniasis in two highly endemic metropolises of Iran: Application of FTA cards for DNA extraction from Giemsastained slides. Jundishapur Journal of Microbiology, 9(2), e32885. https://doi.org/10.5812/jjm.32885
4. Patel, T. A., Scadding, G. K., Phillips, D. E., & Lockwood, D. N. (2017). Case report: Old world mucosal leishmaniasis: Report of five imported cases to the Hospital for Tropical Diseases, London, United Kingdom. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 97(4), 11161118. https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.17-0085.
5. Pareyn, M., Alves, F., Burza, S., Chakravarty, J., Alvar, J., Diro, E., & van Griensven, J. (2025). Leishmaniasis. Nature Reviews Disease Primers, 11, 81. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41572-025-00663-w
6. World Health Organization. (2023). Leishmaniasis- key facts. WHO. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/health-topics/neglected-tropical-diseases
7. Srivastava, P., Mondal, D., & Singh, S. (2022). Leishmaniasis diagnosis: an update on the use of parasitological, immunological and molecular methods. Parasitology & Global Health, 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1080/20477724.2022.2092056
8. Reithinger, R., Dujardin, J. C., Louzir, H., Pirmez, C., Alexander, B., & Brooker, S. (2007). Cutaneous leishmaniasis. The Lancet Infectious Diseases, 7(9), 581596. https://doi.org/10.1016/S14733099(07)70209-8
9. Goto, H., & Lindoso, J. A. L. (2010). Cutaneous leishmaniasis: Clinical spectrum, diagnosis, and treatment. American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 11(5), 293–311. https://doi.org/10.21608/zumj.2024.260932.3095
10. AlJawabreh, A., Schoenian, G., Hamarsheh, O., & Presber, W. (2006). Clinical diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis: A comparison study between standardized graded direct microscopy and ITS1PCR of Giemsastained smears. Acta Tropica, 99(1), 55–61.
11. Doro, B., Aqeehal, H., Saadawi, W. K., AlAae, S. S., & AlAshqar, N. A. M. (2025). Comparative analysis of microscopic and PCR methods for leishmaniasis diagnosis. South Asian Journal of Parasitology, 8(1), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.9734/sajp/2025/v8i1207
12. Pita-Pereira, D., Lins, R., Oliveira, M. P., Lima, R. B., Pereira, B. A. S., Moreira, O. C., & Britto, C. (2012). SYBR Green-based real-time PCR targeting kinetoplast DNA can be used to discriminate between the main etiologic agents of Brazilian cutaneous and visceral leishmaniases. Parasites & Vectors, 5, 15. https://doi.org/10.1186/1756-3305-5-15
13. Flaih, M. H., AlAbady, F. A., & Hussein, K. R. (2021). Phylogenetic analysis of kinetoplast DNA: kDNA of Leishmania tropica in ThiQar province, Iraq. Comparative Immunology, Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, 78, 101696. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cimid.2021.101696
14. Haouas, N., Amer, O., Alshammri, F. F., AlShammari, S., Remadi, L., & Ashankyty, I. (2017). Cutaneous leishmaniasis in northwestern Saudi Arabia: Identification of sand fly fauna and parasites. Parasites & Vectors, 10(1), 544. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-017-2497-6
15. Reithinger, R., & Dujardin, J.-C. (2020). Laboratory diagnosis of cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis. Clinical Microbiology Reviews, 33(1), e0002319. https://doi.org/10.1128/CMR.00023-19
16. Schönian, G., Nasereddin, A., Dinse, N., Schweynoch, C., Schallig, H. D. F. H., Presber, W., & Jaffe, C. L. (2014). Molecular diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis and identification of the causative Leishmania species in Morocco by using three PCR-based assays. Parasites & Vectors, 7, 420. https://doi.org/10.1186/1756-3305-7-420
17. Salman Hakim, W., Shah, W., Khan, J., Khattak, J. I., Khan, M. I., & Sohail, M. (2023). PCR Based Detection of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis. Pakistan Journal of Medical & Health Sciences, 17(01), 631634. https://doi.org/10.53350/pjmhs2023171631
18. Maia, C., & Campino, L. (2022). Laboratory diagnostics for human Leishmania infections: a polymerase chain reactionfocused review of detection and identification methods. Parasites & Vectors, 15, Article 1. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-022-05524-z
19. Habeeb Abdallah, A. T., Siddig, E. E., Ngabonziza, J. C. S., Muvunyi, C. M., & Ahmed, A. (2025). A case report of venous ulcer mimicking cutaneous leishmaniasis. Clinical Case Reports, 13(7), e70648. https://doi.org/10.1002/ccr3.70648
20. Maia, C., & Campino, L. (2022). Laboratory diagnostics for human Leishmania infections: a polymerase chain reaction-focused review of detection and identification methods. Parasites & Vectors, 15, Article 1. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-022-05524-z
21. Bensoussan, E., Nasereddin, A., Jonas, F., Schnur, L. F., & Jaffe, C. L. (2006). Comparison of PCR assays for diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis. Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 44(4), 1435–1439. https://doi.org/10.1128/JCM.44.4.14351439.2006
22. AlDhubaibi, M. S., Bahaj, S. S., Noman, A., Alkasser, W. Y., AbdElneam, A. I., Mohammed, G. F., Nawaz, H., & Allana, Z. S. (2024). High specificity of PCR in diagnosing mucocutaneous leishmaniasis: a systematic review and metaanalysis. BMC Infectious Diseases, 24, 1476. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-024-10349-5
23. El Tai, N. O., Osman, O. F., El Fari, M., Presber, W., & Schönian, G. (2000). Genotypic diversity and phylogenetic relationships within the Leishmania donovani complex based on ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences. International Journal for Parasitology, 30(1), 8994. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0020-7519(99)00175-9
24. Al-Rasheed, M. J., Al-Jebori, A. H. & Al-Nasiri, F. S. (2015). Study of some epidemiological aspects and heamatological parameters associated with cutaneous leishmaniasis in Tikrit city. Tikrit Journal of Pure Science, 5 (20): 56-63.
25. Al-Alousy, N.W, Al-Nasiri, F.S. (2025). Bacterial infections associated with cutaneous leishmaniasis in Salah Al-Din province, Iraq. Microbial Pathogenesis, 198:107144. https://doi:10.1016/j.micpath.2024.107144
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Sara Ali, Prof. D. Fatima S. Al-Nasiri
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
which allows users to copy, create extracts, abstracts, and new works from the Article, alter and revise the Article, and make commercial use of the Article (including reuse and/or resale of the Article by commercial entities), provided the user gives appropriate credit (with a link to the formal publication through the relevant DOI), provides a link to the license, indicates if changes were made and the licensor is not represented as endorsing the use made of the work.
