Investigating Crithidia spp. in ulcer smear of patients suspected of leishmaniasis in Aq-Qala, Golestan province, Northern Iran, ۲۰۱۹-۲۰۲۰

Background: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a parasitic infection that causes significant health problems. This study aimed to survey the prevalence of Leishmania and Crithidia spp. co-infection in the wounds of patients with suspected Leishmaniasis in Golestan Province, northern Iran. Methods: This retrospective descriptive study included ۱۴۰ smears of patients suspected of CL who were referred to the Leishmaniasis Diagnostic Laboratory in Aq-Qala Health Center, Golestan Province, northern Iran, in ۲۰۱۹–۲۰۲۰. The sore smears, along with demographic and epidemiological data of patients, were obtained from the laboratory archives. DNA was extracted from Giemsa-stained smears, and PCR was performed on the ITS۱ and GPDH genes for Leishmania and Crithidia spp., respectively. Results: In our research, ۱۴۰ patients suspected of CL were studied. PCR results showed that ۱۱۷ patients (۸۳.۵%) were positive for L. major, three patients (۲.۱%) were positive for L. tropica, and ۲۰ patients (۱۴.۲%) were negative for the Leishmania parasite. One patient’s smear was positive for Crithidia species. Five patients (۳.۵%) had a history of treated leishmaniasis. The results indicated that ۷۴.۷% of the patients with one wound, ۸۹.۵% of the patients with two wounds, ۹۶.۴% of the patients with three wounds, ۹۰.۹% of the patients with four wounds, and ۱۰۰% of the patients with five or more wounds were positive for L. major. Conclusion: More studies should be conducted in the field of simultaneous infection of Leishmania and Crithidia in humans. In addition, research on the effect of leishmaniasis treatments on Crithidia spp. can be useful.

کلیدواژه ها:

Cutaneous Leishmaniasis ، Crithidia ، Leishmania ، PCR ، Iran