Research in Molecular Medicine

en Atypical Cutaneous Leishmaniasis with Negative Direct Smear: Two Case Reports Confirmed by Molecular Diagnosis Special Issue: “Leishmaniasis” Special Issue: “Leishmaniasis” گزارش مورد case report <div style="text-align: justify;">Background: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a chronic parasitic disease caused by protozoa of the genus Leishmania, primarily transmitted to humans by bites of infected female sandflies. Case presentation: A 5-year-old girl from Damghan presented with a chronic lesion on her hand that was initially misdiagnosed as a fungal infection; however, a kDNA-based PCR assay confirmed CL despite negative direct smears. A 43-year-old man from the same region had a painful ulcerative leg lesion misdiagnosed as fungal; kDNA-based PCR confirmed Leishmania major infection, and he improved following treatment with glucantime. These cases illustrate the diagnostic challenges posed by atypical presentations and underscore the importance of molecular diagnostics for accurate detection in endemic areas. Conclusion: Atypical CL presents diverse clinical features, especially in children, which complicate diagnosis. Increased awareness and further research are crucial to improving outcomes and refining management strategies.</div> Atypical presentations, cutaneous leishmaniasis, Case report, Molecular test 0 0 http://rmm.mazums.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-183-2&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Hajar Ziaei Hezarjaribi ziaei2000@yahoo.com 100319475328460013693 100319475328460013693 No Toxoplasmosis Research Center, Communicable Diseases Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran. Mahdi Fakhar mahdifakhar53@gmail.com 100319475328460013694 100319475328460013694 Yes Gastroenterology and Hepatology Diseases Research Center, Shahid Beheshti Hospital, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran. Amir Mohammad Fallahi Lima amirlimaaa9@gmail.com 100319475328460013695 100319475328460013695 No Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran. Rabeeh Tabaripour r.tabaripour69@gmail.com 100319475328460013696 100319475328460013696 No Toxoplasmosis Research Center, Communicable Diseases Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran. Hedieh Hatamipour Hedi.hatami@gmail.com 100319475328460013697 100319475328460013697 No Student Research Committee, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran. Fatemeh Mesgarian Mesgariana@yahoo.com 100319475328460013698 100319475328460013698 No Gonabad Health Centre, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gonabad, Iran.