مقالات پذیرفته شده در سومین کنگره بین المللی زیست پزشکی
New findings on Leishmania tropica, a neglected causative agent of leishmaniasis using experimental models
New findings on Leishmania tropica, a neglected causative agent of leishmaniasis using experimental models
Mosayeb Rostamian,1,*Hamid Mahmoudzadeh Niknam,2
1. Infectious Diseases Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran 2. Immunology Department, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
Introduction: Leishmania tropica causes cutaneous and rarely visceral leishmaniasis in many parts of the world. It is a health threatening issue in many developing and under-developed countries. Also, due to the population movement (through tourism, or migration) higher numbers of imported cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) cases of L. tropica are observed in developed countries. Since many countries struggling with L. tropica are low-income countries, international agencies should help and invest more budgets to increase studies and knowledge about this species. The first step can be study of L. tropica in experimental models for exploring the immunological parameters associated with the disease outcomes. Information obtained from these animal models can be applied for treatment, prevention and control of leishmaniasis caused by this species.
Methods: The aim of the present work is to summarize published data related to experimental models of this parasite, presenting an overview of the subject. We also present in brief the epidemiology, transmission and human manifestation of L. tropica infection.
Results: The literature surveying showed that CL caused by L. tropica has been extended from eastern limit in India to western limit in the Greece. Humans, rodents, hyraxes, gerbillus, gundis, golden jackals, red foxes, and domestic dogs have been reported as reservoirs of CL caused by L. tropica. The results of literature reviewing in experimental models of L. tropica indicated that: 1- mice, rats and hamsters have been used for experimental models of L. tropica infection, 2- Hamsters are the best animal model for L. tropica infection, 3- L. tropica infection causes a non-ulcerative and chronic pathology as cutaneous form in mice and usually visceral form in hamsters, 4- The host genotype affects the immune response and disease outcome of L. tropica infection, 5- The dose, strain, routes of inoculation, and sex of the host are among the factors affecting disease outcome of this species.
Conclusion: Altogether, the results of the present study showed that there is little information about experimental animal models for L. tropica infection and majority of them are obtained from mice at the physiopathological point of view. Majority of these studies have shown a nonulcerative and chronic pathology as cutaneous form in mice and usually visceral form in hamsters, although more studies are needed in this field.