Comparison of conventional and polymerase chain reaction diagnostic techniques for leishmaniasis in the endemic region of Adana, Turkey

Background  Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) has long been reported in the Cukurova region. We have compared the sensitivity of the conventional methods of diagnosis by microscopy and cultivation of lesion aspirates against polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of parasite‐specific DNA from thes...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of dermatology 2006-05, Vol.45 (5), p.569-572
Main Authors: Culha, Gulnaz, Uzun, Soner, Ozcan, Kadri, Memisoglu, Hamdi R., Chang, Kwang-Poo
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Animals
Biological and medical sciences
Child
Dermatology
DNA, Protozoan - analysis
Endemic Diseases
Female
Human protozoal diseases
Humans
Infectious diseases
Leishmania - genetics
Leishmania - isolation & purification
Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous - diagnosis
Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous - epidemiology
Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous - etiology
Leshmaniasis
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Parasitic diseases
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Predictive Value of Tests
Protozoal diseases
Sensitivity and Specificity
Turkey - epidemiology
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Summary:Background  Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) has long been reported in the Cukurova region. We have compared the sensitivity of the conventional methods of diagnosis by microscopy and cultivation of lesion aspirates against polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of parasite‐specific DNA from these samples. Methods  The samples (n = 25) were obtained from patients clinically diagnosed with CL at the regional dermatology clinic. Aliquots of the samples were stained with Giemsa for microscopy and cultured in Novy‐Nicolle‐McNeal (NNN) blood agar for promastigote growth. The remainder were subjected to DNA extraction for PCR amplification of the conserved region of kinetoplast minicircle DNA. PCR products of the expected size (120 bp) were observed after agarose gel electrophoresis, followed by staining with ethidium bromide. Results  The positive rates from 25 samples were 44%, 68%, and 100% for cultivation, microscopy, and PCR, respectively. Conclusions  The PCR method used appears to be the most sensitive for the diagnosis of CL in this region.
ISSN:0011-9059
1365-4632
DOI:10.1111/j.1365-4632.2006.02695.x