Molecular characterization of Leishmania parasites in naturally infected sand flies from the endemic focus of Kerman City, Southeastern Iran

Objective To identify the etiological agent, host and vector of anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis in Kerman City, Southeastern Iran, using nested PCR and restriction fragment length polymorphism-PCR techniques. Methods Conducting this cross-sectional study in Kerman City from March to November 2014, we collected and morphologically identified 1 075 sandflies. The phlebotomine sand flies were then molecularly examined for harboring Leishmania parasites and blood meal preference using nested PCR and restriction fragment length polymorphism-PCR techniques respectively. Results Phlebotomus sergenti (P. sergenti) and Phlebotomus papatasi were found to comprise 94.3% and 5.7% of catches respectively. Nested PCR assay, applied for kDNA minicircles amplification, detected Leishmania tropica in P. sergenti at the rate of 3.6%. Also, restriction fragment length polymorphism-PCR assay on mtDNA fragments demonstrated that 41.8% of P. sergenti population preferred to feed on human blood rather than other animals. Conclusions This is the first study to provide molecular bases for incriminating P. sergenti as the main vector of Leishmania tropica, the causative agent of anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis, in Kerman City. This study emphasized the high predominance, strong anthropophilic behavior and peridomicile adaptation of P. sergenti population in the focus.