02505nas a2200325   4500000000100000008004100001260001200042653001200054653000900066653000900075653001500084653001400099653001500113653001200128653000900140100001200149700001400161700001400175700001300189700001400202700001600216700001200232700001900244245014400263856015300407300000900560490000700569520158900576022001402165       2026                            d  c05/202610aDisease10aITS210aIran10aLeishmania10aPhylogeny10aSequencing10aTourism10akDNA1 aAzizi K1 aShahabi S1 aSarkari B1 aAsgari Q1 aSoltani A1 aKalantari M1 aPaksa A1 aDabaghmanesh S00aZoonotic transmission and genetic diversity of Leishmania major in Shiraz, Iran: An integrated entomological, clinical, and molecular study  uhttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405673126000127/pdfft?md5=3b69add6a5fa7fe1b3c255d53cf6726a&pid=1-s2.0-S2405673126000127-main.pdf  a1-120 v333 a<p>Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), endemic in Shiraz, Iran, is caused by (zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis, ZCL) and (anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis, ACL). This study investigated transmission drivers, including sand fly vectors, zoonotic and environmental factors, and the genetic diversity of . A total of 1029 sand flies were collected indoors and outdoors in Shiraz from August to October using sticky traps. Samples from patient lesions (&nbsp;=&nbsp;30) and pooled female sand flies (&nbsp;=&nbsp;40 pools) were examined by microscopy and screened by PCR targeting kDNA and ITS2 genes. Phylogenetic and haplotype analyses were conducted based on ITS2 sequences. The sand fly fauna was dominated by (53.8%) and (38.7%). PCR detected DNA in 80% of pools and both species in pools; however, molecular detection alone does not confirm vector competence. All patient samples were confirmed positive for CL. ITS2 sequencing identified 22 haplotypes among strains, 20 of which were detected in Iran, indicating relatively high haplotype diversity (Hd&nbsp;=&nbsp;0.74). A dominant ancestral haplotype was shared across Asia, Africa, and Europe. These findings suggest that ZCL transmission in Shiraz is likely associated with peridomestic sand flies ( and ) and environmental conditions that may facilitate transmission. Iran accounted for 91% of the identified haplotypes in this dataset, highlighting its substantial contribution to regional ITS2 diversity. Continued vector surveillance and improved environmental management may support more effective control strategies.</p>
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