Detection and Characterization of Leishmania Parasites by DNA-Based Methods: Southern Blotting and PCR

Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease that is difficult to diagnose. This IS owing to the low number of parasites observed in clinical samples and the similarity of parasites that cause different clinical symptoms. Previously, culturing was necessary to identify the parasites with techniques such as isoenzyme analysis. DNA-based techniques have been tested for detection and identification of leishmaniasis. Southern blot analysis, dot-, spot-, or squash-blot, in situ hybridization and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) all have contributed to a better identification and/or detection of Leishmania parasites (1 ).