Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Parasitology 1735-7020 8 2 2013 06 15 337 341 EN Ma Mohaghegh Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. A Fata Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran AND Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Research Center, Emam Reza Hospital, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran Gh Salehi Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran F Berenji Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran M Mousavi Bazzaz Department of Community Medicine, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran H Rafatpanah Inflammation and Inflammatory Diseases Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran M Parian Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran A Movahedi Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran 2015 10 14   Background: Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL) is a parasitic skin disease. Diagnosis primarily is based on clinical signs and microscopic observation of parasite on direct stained smears or tissue sections. Sensitivity of direct smear is not as high as molecular methods. The aim of this study was to identify and characterize Leishmania species among the negative direct smears obtained from skin ulcers sus-pected to CL by PCR method. Methods:Among 81 patients with suspicious skin lesions to CL referred to the Parasitology lab, negative Giemsa stained smears were collected. DNA extraction performed by scraping stained smears, then PCR was performed. Results:Among the DNA extracted from smears, L. tropica was isolated from 9 (11.1%) of the smears and L.major was not isolated from any samples. Conclusion:Direct microscopy on stained smears for diagnosis of leishmaniasis is not enough accu-rate. PCR is recommended for clinically suspected lesions with negative result of direct smear. https://ijpa.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijpa/article/view/486 https://ijpa.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijpa/article/download/486/458