Abstract
Turkey is located in an important geographical location, in terms of the epidemiology of vector-borne diseases, linking Asia and Europe. Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is one of the endemic diseases in a Turkey and according to the Ministry Health of Turkey, 45% of CL patients originate from Şanlıurfa province located in southeastern Turkey. Herein, the epidemiological status of CL, caused by L. tropica, in Turkey was examined using multilocus microsatellite typing (MLMT) of strains obtained from Turkish and Syrian patients. A total of 38 cryopreserved strains and 20 Giemsa-stained smears were included in the present study. MLMT was performed using 12 highly specific microsatellite markers. Delta K (ΔK) calculation and Bayesian statistics were used to determine the population structure. Three main populations (POP A, B and C) were identified and further examination revealed the presence of three subpopulations for POP B and C. Combined analysis was performed using the data of previously typed L. tropica strains and Mediterranean and Şanlıurfa populations were identified. This finding suggests that the epidemiological status of L. tropica is more complicated than expected when compared to previous studies. A new population, comprised of Syrian L. tropica samples, was reported for the first time in Turkey, and the data presented here will provide new epidemiological information for further studies.
Highlights
Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease caused by intracellular protozoan parasite, Leishmania and transmitted by the bite of a certain female Phlebotominae sand flies
Cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania tropica is a serious public health problem with more than two thousands of local cases each year
Several population genetic studies were performed using Turkish L. tropica isolates but all previously studied isolates were originating from the same geographical area population structure could not be revealed in detail for Turkey
Summary
Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease caused by intracellular protozoan parasite, Leishmania and transmitted by the bite of a certain female Phlebotominae sand flies. Leishmaniasis is classified as cutaneous, visceral and mucocutaneous by clinical manifestations and it is among the world’s six major tropical diseases. In most countries cutaneous leishmaniasis is under-report, it is difficult to estimate the real number of the cases. Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a major health problem in Turkey. Four different Leishmania species (L. tropica, L. donovani, L. infantum and L. major) were reported in Turkey to cause CL [3,4]. Rare cases were reported that L. tropica may be the causative agent of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in Mediterranean Basin as well as in Turkey [5]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
