Comparison of Diagnostic Methods in Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Iraq

Abstract

Sixty -four specimens collected passively from patients with cutaneous ulcers suggestive of leishmaniasis at-tending hospital and health centres in all parts of Iraq for diagnosis were included in the study. The present study was con-ducted from June to December 2012 in Al-Karamah Teaching Hospital in Wasit Province, Iraq. Dermal scrapings were ana-lysed both by parasitological (examination of Giemsa-stained smears and in vitro cultivation) methods and by a genus-specific PCR detection. Microscopy revealed amastigotes in 38 samples (59.4%) and in vitro cultivation gave positive re-sults in 19 cases (29.7%), whereas PCR detected Leishmania in 44 samples (68.75 %). There are two forms of Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in Iraq are caused by two species of Leishmania . Of 44 well-documented cases in our study ; 28 (63.6 %) were caused byLeishmania major and 16 (36.4 %) by Leishmania tropica.