molecular typing by polymerase chain reaction sequence specific primers (pcr- ssp) of human leukocyte class i and class ii alleles in a sample of iraqi visceral leishmaniasis patients

objective: this study aimed to investigate the association between hla alleles and visceral leishmaniasis (vl) in a sample of iraqi patients. methods: a total of 30 patients were studied, in addition to 20 age, gender and ethnicity matched controls. all subjects were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction-sequence specific primers (pcr-ssp) method. results: for hla-class i region (a and b loci), only hla-a*19 allele showed a significant (p = 0.031) decreased frequency in vl patients as compared with controls (13.3 vs. 45.0%), and such deviation was associated with or and pf values of 0.19 and 0.37, respectively. at hla-class ii region, hla-drb1*03 and hla-dqb1*02 alleles were significantly (p = 0.020 and 0.013, respectively) increased in vl patients (56.6 vs. 20% and 46.6 vs. 10%, respectively) as compared with controls. the or of such two positive associations was 5.23 and 7.88, respectively, and the ef value was 0.46 and 0.41, respectively. in contrast, hla-drb1*02 (13.3 vs. 45.0%) and hla-dqb1*03 (33.3 vs. 70.0%)were significantly (p = 0.031 and 0.023, respectively) decreased in patients. however, none of these differences remained significant after correcting the p value for the number of alleles tested at each locus. conclusions: these preliminary data suggest that hla alleles may have some role in aetiopathogenesis of vl, and this role can be in favour of susceptibility and/or protection.