First report on molecular characterization of Leishmania species from cutaneous leishmaniasis patients in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan

Objective: To report presence of Leishmania major in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa of Pakistan, where cutaneous leishmaniasis(CL) is endemic and was thought to be caused by Leishmania tropica only. Methods: Biopsy samples from 432 CL suspected patients were collected from 3 southern districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during years 2011–2016. Microscopy on Giemsa stained slides were done followed by amplification of the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer 1 gene. Results: Leishmania amastigotes were detected by microscopy in 308 of 432 samples(71.3%) while 374 out of 432 samples(86.6%) were positive by ribosomal internal transcribed spacer 1 PCR. Subsequent restriction fragment length polymorphism confirmed Leishmania tropica in 351 and Leishmania major in 6 biopsy samples. Conclusions: This study is the first molecular characterization of Leishmania species in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It confirmed the previous assumptions that anthroponotic CL is the major CL form present in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Furthermore, this is the first report of Leishmania major from a classical anthroponotic CL endemic focus identified in rural areas of Kohat district in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Traditional medicines and their in-vitro proof against Staphylococcus aureus in Pakistan

Objective:To gather the fragmented literature on ethnobotany,phytochemistry and in-vitro activities of medicinal plants of Pakistan being used against common infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus(S.aureus).Methods:A large number of published and unpublished research studies related to the ethnomedicinal,phytochemical and anti-S.aureus activity of medicinal flora of Pakistan published from 1990-2018 were reviewed using online bibliographic databases such as PubMed,Web of Science,Science Direct,ResearchGate and libraries.Results:S.aureus can cause many human ailments including endocarditis,staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome,septic arthritis,respiratory problems with an estimated infection rate of 25%-35%across the globe.This review comprised of 86 medicinal plants.Data showed that people mostly used leaves(50%)for the preparation of traditional medicines.Correlation analysis on the reviewed data revealed that methanolic extract concentrations of medicinal plants was highly significantly positive correlated(r=0.8;P<0.01)with the S.aureus zone of inhibitions.S.aureus reportedly showed complete resistant to the commonly used antibiotic erythromycin.Isolated compounds like altheahexacosanyl lactone,cinnamaldehyde,niloticane,gobicusin A,asparacosin A,muzanzagenin,isoagatharesinol,friedelin,inophynone and eugenol were active against S.aureus.This study provided in-vitro proof for the flora of Pakistan used against different infections caused by S.aureus.Conclusions:Antibacterial agents from natural sources could be more effective against bacterial pathogens and will be helpful in minimizing the adverse effects of synthetic drugs,and hence provides a base for the pharmaceutical industries.