An outbreak of Leishmania major from an endemic to a non-endemic region posed a public health threat in Iraq from 2014-2017: Epidemiological, molecular and phylogenetic studies

PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2018 Mar 1;12(3):e0006255. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006255. eCollection 2018 Mar.

Abstract

Background: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a neglected worldwide, zoonotic, vector-borne, tropical disease that is a threat to public health. This threat may spread from endemic to non-endemic areas. Current research has exploited epidemiological, molecular and phylogenetical studies to determine the danger of an outbreak of CL in the borderline area between northern and central Iraq from 2014-2017.

Methodology/principal findings: For the first time, using sequence analysis of the cytochrome b gene, the occurrence of CL in the borderline area between northern and central Iraq was confirmed to be due to Leishmania major. The phylogenetic analysis indicated that it was closely related to the L. major MRHO/IR/75/ER strain in Iran.

Conclusions and significance: In conclusion, the genotype confirmation of the L. major strain will improve our understanding of the epidemiology of the disease. This is important for facilitating control programs to prevent the further spread of CL. Furthermore, this area could be considered as a model for further research on the risk of global CL epidemics in other non-endemic countries where both reservoir hosts and sandfly vectors are present.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cytochromes b / genetics
  • DNA, Protozoan / genetics
  • Disease Outbreaks*
  • Endemic Diseases*
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Insect Vectors / parasitology
  • Iran / epidemiology
  • Iraq / epidemiology
  • Leishmania major / classification
  • Leishmania major / genetics*
  • Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / epidemiology*
  • Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / parasitology
  • Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / transmission
  • Phylogeny
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Psychodidae / parasitology
  • Public Health
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA

Substances

  • DNA, Protozoan
  • Cytochromes b

Grants and funding

This research was partially funded by: 1- Garmian Administration- Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq (There is no grant number and URLs for this offer). This fund received by these authors: MMMA-B, SMAA-J and SSN. 2- BIOLAB Company (Research and Laboratory Requirements) has provided most of the required materials for this project, which are molecular biological materials and kits including Primers, Genomic DNA extraction kits, PCR master mix kits, and sequencings. (There is no grant number and URLs for this offer). This fund received by these authors: MMMA-B, SMAA-J and SSN. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.