Comparison of Traditional Methods and PCR for Diagnosis of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in South-West of Iran

authors:

avatar Shahram Khademvatan 1 , avatar Jasem Saki 2 , * , avatar Sharif Maraghi 2

Department of Medical Parasitology, Cellular and Molecular Research Center , Ahwaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahwaz, Iran
Department of Medical Parasitology, Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Ahwaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahwaz, Iran
Zahedan Journal of Research in Medical Sciences: Vol.14, issue 8; e93257
published online: December 07, 2011
article type: Research Article
received: August 27, 2011
accepted: October 05, 2011

how to cite: Khademvatan S, Saki J, Maraghi S. Comparison of Traditional Methods and PCR for Diagnosis of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in South-West of Iran. Zahedan J Res Med Sci. 2012;14(8):e93257. 

Abstract

Background: The usual method for laboratory diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis was the direct observation of parasites under a light microscope. Although this method has high specificity, it has low sensitivity. The purpose of this study is to compare three methods of direct observation, culture and Mini-exon-PCR to diagnose cutaneous leishmaniasis in Khuzestan province. This study intends to compare sensitivity of PCR approach with sensitivity of the existing traditional methods to diagnose cutaneous leishmaniasis using Mini-exon gene.
Materials and Methods: A total 216 skin biopsies prepared from patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis were studied though direct method, culture in NNN, culture in RPMI 1640 and Mini-exon-PCR and the sensitivity of these methods were compared with each other. In this study Mini-exon-PCR was considered as the gold standard method.
Results: Results showed that 46.7% with direct method, 35.1% with culture method in RPMI 1640, 57.8% with culture method in NNN and 70.3% with PCR were positive. Sensitivity was obtained 66.4% for microscopic observation, 50% for culture in RPMI1640, and 82.2% for culture in NNN and 100% for PCR.
Conclusion: This study showed that PCR on samples stored in normal saline has higher sensitivity and specificity than other traditional methods (p>0.05). Thus, Mini-exon-PCR on samples in normal saline is a reliable method to diagnose cutaneous leishmaniasis, especially in cases where the diagnosis is negative with the other methods.

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