Data were expressed as mean and standard error of the mean and analysed by anova followed by Tukey’s multiple comparison test to compare the statistical significance of the observed differences between the groups. Whenever there was a significant difference, t-test was used to compare individual groups. Analysis was carried out using SigmaStat 2.0 software (Jandel GmbH, Erkrath, Germany). P < 0·05 was considered significant. Analysis of the isolates collected from four endemic areas of L. major by SSCP

showed distinctive profiles among the four isolates. Isolates displayed genotypically different patterns with each other, even with RS of L. major, as displayed in Fig. 1. The characteristics of four strains are demonstrated in Table 1. As shown in Table 1, different strains see more showed distinct patterns of the parasite burden 8 weeks post-infection. The lowest number of the viable parasites was detected in LN of mice, infected with DA39 strain (2.15 × 107 ± 2.26 × 106), and the highest number was documented for SH25 strain (9.59 × 109 ± 3.82 × 109). A statistically significant difference was observed in the parasite load caused by DA39 strain, compared with KA1, SH25 and DE5 strains (P ≤ 0·001 for all comparisons) at 8 weeks post-infection. The expression of Ifng mRNA in LN of mice inoculated by all strains was detected at early phases

of the infection, namely within 3, 16 and 40 h (the highest level) post-infection. Amongst the four strains,

clonidine DA39 strain showed the highest FI in mRNA expression at 16 h (33 FI) and peaked to the highest level of Ifng transcript expression at www.selleckchem.com/products/E7080.html 40 h (127 FI) post-infection. The differences with other strains were significant (P < 0·001, for all comparisons). Likewise, after DA39 strain, the SH25 strain showed a higher level of FI (56 FI) compared with the other strains at 40 h post-infection (P < 0·001). Although the level of Ifng mRNA elicited in LN of the infected mice by all strains was decreased in the late phase, both DA39 and SH25 strains showed significantly higher FI (16 and 13 FI, respectively) than the other strains at W3 post-infection (P < 0·001 for all comparisons), and the difference between DA39 and SH25 strains was significant (P = 0·035) (Fig. 2a). In week 8, DA39 showed significant difference only with the RS (P < 0·001), but no significant differences were detected with other strains. The expression of Il2 mRNA in draining LN of the infected mice was high in the early phase of the infection including 3 h (35–65 FI) and 16 h (26–74 FI), and highest level was observed at 40 h (45–113 FI) post-infection. Amongst the four strains, DA39 strain showed the highest level of transcript expression (113 FI) at 40 h post-infection, followed by SH25, KA1, DE5 and RS strains. Statistically significant difference was observed in Il2 mRNA FI induced by DA39 with KA1, SH25 and DE strains (P < 0·001 for all comparisons) at this time point.