Genetic diversity of Leishmania major strains isolated from different clinical forms of cutaneous leishmaniasis in southern Iran based on minicircle kDNA.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) has been reported from 20 of 31 provinces of Iran. It is a polymorphic disease, which may show various clinical manifestations. Although genetic diversity of the parasite is suggested to be one of the factors influencing the clinical manifestations in CL, there is still no data regarding the genetic variation of Leishmania major based on the sequencing of kDNA .The amplification of the kinetoplast DNA based on 21 isolates of L. major from different clinical forms of CL was carried out using nested-PCR and subsequent sequencing. The clinical presentation was basically of two types: (a) typical lesions and (b) atypical, including erythematous volcanic ulcer, multi infections, lupoid, diffuse, eczematous, verrucous, dry, and nodular lesions. Sequence analysis of the amplified kDNA was used to investigate the genetic variations among L. major isolates and correlate the findings with clinical and histological features. Leishmanial DNA was detected in 98 of 100 cases. L. major and Leishmaniatropica were detected in 97 cases and 1 case, respectively. The Sequence analysis of kDNA from 21 L. major strains showed a high genetic polymorphism of L. major causing CL in southern Iran and correlations among the geographical origin and the clinical manifestations of the disease.