Genetic polymorphism of Leishmania major in Isfahan., Iran: Relationships with clinical presentation.

Although it is suggested that genetic variability of the parasite is one of the factors influencing clinical manifestations in leishmaniasis, no data exist regarding genetic polymorphism of Leishmania major and relationship with clinical presentation. Therefore, determination of genetic variation within the species of L. major isolated from different cases of ZCL in Isfahan, Iran is investigated. The goal this study, identification of species and genetic variation, was based on Permissively Primed Intergenic Polymorphic-Polymerase Chain Reaction (PPIP-PCR) and Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism analysis of amplified Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS-RFLP) in the ribosomal operon, L. major from clinically different forms of ZCL were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), followed by the digestion of the PCR product with restriction enzymes. The profiles were visualized in agarose gel under UV light. Restriction analysis of ITS with enzymes showed identical fragment patterns in samples isolated from clinically similar forms of ZCL, but highly diverse fragment patterns in those isolated from clinically different forms. In conclusion L. major causing ZCL in Isfahan is genetically a highly polymorphic species and a correlation may exist between genetic heterogeneity of the parasite and the clinical manifestation of the disease in human.