Isoenzyme study of causative agents of leishmaniasis using glutamate dehydrogenase and hexokinase

Abstract

Leishmania Spp. are a group of protozoan parasites which cause a wide range of human diseases from localized self-healing cutaneous lesions to fatal visceral infections. Isoenzyme characterization by using various enzyme systems is a reliable and important tool for differentiation between various species of protozoa especially family trypanosomatidae including genus Leishmania. In this study two enzyme systems were evaluated for identification of isolated organisms from patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in endemic foci of Fars province South of Iran. In some cases, it was observed that some enzyme systems routinely used in Leishmania parasite identification centers do not differentiate well between species, so it was decided to use non routine enzyme systems. Isoenzyme pattern of two enzyme systems, Gloutamate Dehydrogenase (GDH) and Hexokinase (HK) were compared by Poly Acryl amide Gel Electrophoresis (PAGE) and Cellulose acetate Electrophoresis (CE) in characterization of Leishmania major, Leishmania tropica and Leishmania infantum. Our findings showed the enzymes GDH on PAGE could differentiate L. major from L. tropica and L. infantum. The HK enzymatic system used on CE in this study has ability to differentiate three species of L. major, L. tropica and L. infantum.