Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Parasitology 1735-7020 11 1 2016 03 14 65 72 Mohammad Hossein FEIZ HADDAD Health Research Institute, Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran AND Dept. of Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran Ezatollah GHASEMI Dept. of Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran Sharif MARAGHI Dept. of Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran Mehdi TAVALA Dept. of Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran 2016 03 14 2016 03 14 Background: The incidence of cutaneous leishmaniasis in the city of Mehran has risen sharply in recent years because the city borders Iraq, which has allowed entrance of different Leishmania strains. These strains have different shapes, periods of disease, and healing of lesions. The present study identified and determined cutaneous leishmaniasis species in this region. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out by preparing slides from 92 patients with suspected cutaneous leishmaniasis lesions from Mehran during 2012-2013. Parasite genomic DNA was extracted and CSB2XF and CSB1XR primers were used to amplify the Leishmania minicircle kDNA regions. The parasite species were detected by specific 13Z and LIR primers by applying nested PCR technique. Results: All banding patterns were diagnosed as L. major parasite by comparison of standard models with amplified fragments 560 bp in length from bands. The patients were 56.5% male and 43.5% female. The most frequently-infected age group was the 21-30 years group at a rate of 27.2%. About 56.3% of patients had a single lesion and a significant correlation was observed between age and number of lesions (P > 0.05). Conclusion: The nested PCR technique was shown to be an effective method with high sensitivity and specificity for identification of human Leishmania parasites. Molecular analysis revealed that parasites isolated from Mehran were identified as L. major and the disease was rural in form. https://ijpa.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijpa/article/view/811 https://ijpa.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijpa/article/download/811/654