THE EFFECT OF LASER an‎d LASER PHOTOSENSITIZER COMBINATION ON LEISHMANIA TROPICA PROMASTIGOTES IN VITRO

Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a common disease in Iraq, especially in the central part of the country. Several treatments have been suggested for this disease but none is completely effective and without side effects. Several research studies are focused on the development of alternative treatments. The study was carried out in College of Medicine, Tikrit University, to show the effect of laser and laser photosensitiser (ultrameladinine) combination on Leishmania tropica promastigotes in vitro, after exposure for 3, 6 and 9 minutes. It was found that exposure to light from 5 mw lasers in the presence of ultrameladinine lead to destruction of L. tropica promastigotes in vitro. The effect of laser and laser photosensitiser was greater than laser light alone. Their effect on the parasite after exposure for 9 minutes was significantly greater than exposure for 3 and 6 minutes