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Ghawar W, Chaouch M, Ben Salah A, Snoussi MA, Salem S, Kharroubi G, Chouchen S, Bouaoun A, Laouini D, Bettaieb J, Ben Abderrazak S. First Report of Two Jaculus Rodents as Potential Reservoir Hosts of Leishmania Parasites in Tunisia. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10081502. [PMID: 35893560 PMCID: PMC9332729 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10081502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Revised: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
This study shows, for the first time, natural Leishmania infection among Jaculus spp. in an endemic region of Tataouine, South Tunisia. To better characterize the transmission cycles in this complex focus of mixed transmission, Leishmania detection and species identification were performed by direct examination, internal transcribed spacer-1 (ITS1)-PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), and sequencing of Jaculus (J.) jaculus (Linnaeus, 1758) and J. hirtipes (Lichtenstein, 1823) rodent species, which are frequently encountered in this area. Leishmania parasites were observed in 19 (41.3%) smears, while DNA parasites were detected in 28 (60.9%) Jaculus spp. spleens; among them, 12 (54.5%) were from 22 J. jaculus individuals and 16 (66.7%) were from 24 J. hirtipes individuals. Leishmania parasites were confirmed as Leishmania (L.) killicki (syn. L. tropica) in two J. hirtipes individuals (4.3%) and L. major (n = 24; 52.2%) in 10 J. jaculus and 14 J. hirtipes individuals. This finding represents the first evidence of natural infection with Leishmania parasites in rodents belonging to the Jaculus genus, providing the rationale to consider them as potential reservoir hosts of Old World Leishmania parasites in Tunisia and North Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wissem Ghawar
- Department of Medical Epidemiology, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Tunis 1002, Tunisia; (A.B.S.); (M.A.S.); (S.S.); (G.K.); (J.B.)
- Laboratory of Transmission, Control and Immunobiology of Infections (LR16IPT02), Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Tunis 1002, Tunisia;
- Clinical Investigation Center (CIC), Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Tunis 1002, Tunisia; (S.C.); (A.B.)
- Campus Universitaire Farhat Hached, University Tunis El Manar, Tunis 1068, Tunisia; (M.C.); (S.B.A.)
- Correspondence: or ; Tel.: +216-71-843-755; Fax: +216-71-791-833
| | - Melek Chaouch
- Campus Universitaire Farhat Hached, University Tunis El Manar, Tunis 1068, Tunisia; (M.C.); (S.B.A.)
- Laboratory of Medical Parasitology, Biotechnology and Biomolecules (LR16IPT06), Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Tunis 1002, Tunisia
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Biomathematics and Biostatistics (LR16IPT09), Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Tunis 1002, Tunisia
| | - Afif Ben Salah
- Department of Medical Epidemiology, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Tunis 1002, Tunisia; (A.B.S.); (M.A.S.); (S.S.); (G.K.); (J.B.)
- Laboratory of Transmission, Control and Immunobiology of Infections (LR16IPT02), Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Tunis 1002, Tunisia;
- Clinical Investigation Center (CIC), Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Tunis 1002, Tunisia; (S.C.); (A.B.)
- Campus Universitaire Farhat Hached, University Tunis El Manar, Tunis 1068, Tunisia; (M.C.); (S.B.A.)
- Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University Tunis El Manar, Tunis 1068, Tunisia
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine and Medical Sciences (CMMS), Arabian Gulf University (AGU), Manama 329, Bahrain
| | - Mohamed Ali Snoussi
- Department of Medical Epidemiology, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Tunis 1002, Tunisia; (A.B.S.); (M.A.S.); (S.S.); (G.K.); (J.B.)
- Laboratory of Transmission, Control and Immunobiology of Infections (LR16IPT02), Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Tunis 1002, Tunisia;
- Clinical Investigation Center (CIC), Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Tunis 1002, Tunisia; (S.C.); (A.B.)
- Campus Universitaire Farhat Hached, University Tunis El Manar, Tunis 1068, Tunisia; (M.C.); (S.B.A.)
| | - Sadok Salem
- Department of Medical Epidemiology, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Tunis 1002, Tunisia; (A.B.S.); (M.A.S.); (S.S.); (G.K.); (J.B.)
- Laboratory of Transmission, Control and Immunobiology of Infections (LR16IPT02), Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Tunis 1002, Tunisia;
- Clinical Investigation Center (CIC), Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Tunis 1002, Tunisia; (S.C.); (A.B.)
- Campus Universitaire Farhat Hached, University Tunis El Manar, Tunis 1068, Tunisia; (M.C.); (S.B.A.)
| | - Ghassen Kharroubi
- Department of Medical Epidemiology, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Tunis 1002, Tunisia; (A.B.S.); (M.A.S.); (S.S.); (G.K.); (J.B.)
- Laboratory of Transmission, Control and Immunobiology of Infections (LR16IPT02), Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Tunis 1002, Tunisia;
- Clinical Investigation Center (CIC), Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Tunis 1002, Tunisia; (S.C.); (A.B.)
- Campus Universitaire Farhat Hached, University Tunis El Manar, Tunis 1068, Tunisia; (M.C.); (S.B.A.)
- Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University Tunis El Manar, Tunis 1068, Tunisia
| | - Said Chouchen
- Clinical Investigation Center (CIC), Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Tunis 1002, Tunisia; (S.C.); (A.B.)
- Health Regional Directorate of Tataouine, Administrative City, Tataouine Nouvelle, Tataouine 3263, Tunisia
| | - Amor Bouaoun
- Clinical Investigation Center (CIC), Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Tunis 1002, Tunisia; (S.C.); (A.B.)
- Health Regional Directorate of Tataouine, Administrative City, Tataouine Nouvelle, Tataouine 3263, Tunisia
| | - Dhafer Laouini
- Laboratory of Transmission, Control and Immunobiology of Infections (LR16IPT02), Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Tunis 1002, Tunisia;
- Clinical Investigation Center (CIC), Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Tunis 1002, Tunisia; (S.C.); (A.B.)
- Campus Universitaire Farhat Hached, University Tunis El Manar, Tunis 1068, Tunisia; (M.C.); (S.B.A.)
| | - Jihene Bettaieb
- Department of Medical Epidemiology, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Tunis 1002, Tunisia; (A.B.S.); (M.A.S.); (S.S.); (G.K.); (J.B.)
- Laboratory of Transmission, Control and Immunobiology of Infections (LR16IPT02), Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Tunis 1002, Tunisia;
- Clinical Investigation Center (CIC), Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Tunis 1002, Tunisia; (S.C.); (A.B.)
- Campus Universitaire Farhat Hached, University Tunis El Manar, Tunis 1068, Tunisia; (M.C.); (S.B.A.)
- Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University Tunis El Manar, Tunis 1068, Tunisia
| | - Souha Ben Abderrazak
- Campus Universitaire Farhat Hached, University Tunis El Manar, Tunis 1068, Tunisia; (M.C.); (S.B.A.)
- Laboratory of Medical Parasitology, Biotechnology and Biomolecules (LR16IPT06), Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Tunis 1002, Tunisia
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Ait Kbaich M, Mhaidi I, Daoui O, Ait Maatallah I, Riyad M, Akarid K, Lemrani M. Population structure of leishmania major in southeastern morocco. Acta Trop 2020; 210:105587. [PMID: 32535066 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2020.105587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2020] [Revised: 06/09/2020] [Accepted: 06/09/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is an infectious disease caused by various Leishmania species. It is among the most neglected tropical diseases and has been considered a major health threat over the past decades in the country. Its zoonotic form caused by Leishmania (L) major is the most prevalent in Morocco. This study investigated the population structure of L. major in southeastern Morocco. Samples (n = 67) were collected from patients with CL in five different endemic areas located in three provinces (Ouarzazate, Tinghir, and Zagora). These samples were then sequenced using two nuclear markers: internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) and a fragment of the virulence factor GP63. Next, the sequences were edited and analyzed. Molecular diversity indices showed a high population genetic diversity but an overall low haplotype diversity. Our results suggest small population differentiation, indicating a low geographic structure. Tajima's D and Fu's Fs tests both suggested recent population expansion based on the significant deviations from neutrality in both tests for all populations except Tinghir, which may be due to a small sample size. Based on our findings, the region is experiencing rapid population expansion caused by recent CL outbreaks, and one of them has been recently studied. In addition, analysis of molecular variance and FST suggested gene flow between Zagora and both Ouarzazate and Tinghir. Nonetheless, no gene flow was observed between Tinghir and Ouarzazate. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first analysis of the population structure of L. major in Morocco. The results of this study provide crucial background information for epidemiological studies by showing the presence of gene flow between populations and clonal expansion in cases of an outbreak. This will drive authorities to reconsider the implemented control strategies.
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Souguir-Omrani H, Chemkhi J, Fathallah-Mili A, Saadi-BenAoun Y, BelHadjAli I, Guizani I, Guerbouj S. Paraechinus aethiopicus (Ehrenberg 1832) and Atelerix algirus (Lereboullet 1842) hedgehogs: Possible reservoirs of endemic leishmaniases in Tunisia. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2018; 63:219-230. [DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2018.05.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2017] [Revised: 05/14/2018] [Accepted: 05/29/2018] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
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Akhoundi M, Downing T, Votýpka J, Kuhls K, Lukeš J, Cannet A, Ravel C, Marty P, Delaunay P, Kasbari M, Granouillac B, Gradoni L, Sereno D. Leishmania infections: Molecular targets and diagnosis. Mol Aspects Med 2017; 57:1-29. [PMID: 28159546 DOI: 10.1016/j.mam.2016.11.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 175] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2016] [Revised: 11/08/2016] [Accepted: 11/28/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Progress in the diagnosis of leishmaniases depends on the development of effective methods and the discovery of suitable biomarkers. We propose firstly an update classification of Leishmania species and their synonymies. We demonstrate a global map highlighting the geography of known endemic Leishmania species pathogenic to humans. We summarize a complete list of techniques currently in use and discuss their advantages and limitations. The available data highlights the benefits of molecular markers in terms of their sensitivity and specificity to quantify variation from the subgeneric level to species complexes, (sub) species within complexes, and individual populations and infection foci. Each DNA-based detection method is supplied with a comprehensive description of markers and primers and proposal for a classification based on the role of each target and primer in the detection, identification and quantification of leishmaniasis infection. We outline a genome-wide map of genes informative for diagnosis that have been used for Leishmania genotyping. Furthermore, we propose a classification method based on the suitability of well-studied molecular markers for typing the 21 known Leishmania species pathogenic to humans. This can be applied to newly discovered species and to hybrid strains originating from inter-species crosses. Developing more effective and sensitive diagnostic methods and biomarkers is vital for enhancing Leishmania infection control programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Akhoundi
- Service de Parasitologie-Mycologie, Hôpital de l'Archet, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice, Nice, France; MIVEGEC, UMR CNRS5290-IRD224-Université de Montpellier Centre IRD, Montpellier, France.
| | - Tim Downing
- School of Biotechnology, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Jan Votýpka
- Biology Centre, Institute of Parasitology, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czech Republic; Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Katrin Kuhls
- Division of Molecular Biotechnology and Functional Genomics, Technical University of Applied Sciences Wildau, Wildau, Germany
| | - Julius Lukeš
- Biology Centre, Institute of Parasitology, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czech Republic; Faculty of Sciences, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic; Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Toronto, Canada
| | - Arnaud Cannet
- Inserm U1065, Centre Méditerranéen de Médecine Moléculaire, Université de Nice-Sophia Antipolis, Nice, France
| | - Christophe Ravel
- French National Reference Centre on Leishmaniasis, Montpellier University, Montpellier, France
| | - Pierre Marty
- Service de Parasitologie-Mycologie, Hôpital de l'Archet, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice, Nice, France; Inserm U1065, Centre Méditerranéen de Médecine Moléculaire, Université de Nice-Sophia Antipolis, Nice, France
| | - Pascal Delaunay
- Service de Parasitologie-Mycologie, Hôpital de l'Archet, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice, Nice, France; Inserm U1065, Centre Méditerranéen de Médecine Moléculaire, Université de Nice-Sophia Antipolis, Nice, France; MIVEGEC, UMR CNRS5290-IRD224-Université de Montpellier Centre IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Mohamed Kasbari
- Agence Nationale de Sécurité Sanitaire de l'Alimentation, de l'Environnement et du Travail, ANSES, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, Cedex, France
| | - Bruno Granouillac
- IRD/UMI 233, INSERM U1175, Montpellier University, Montpellier, France; MIVEGEC, UMR CNRS5290-IRD224-Université de Montpellier Centre IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Luigi Gradoni
- Unit of Vector-borne Diseases and International Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Denis Sereno
- MIVEGEC, UMR CNRS5290-IRD224-Université de Montpellier Centre IRD, Montpellier, France; Intertryp UMR IRD177, Centre IRD de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
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Attia H, Sghaier RM, Gelanew T, Bali A, Schweynoch C, Guerfali FZ, Mkannez G, Chlif S, Belhaj-Hamida N, Dellagi K, Schönian G, Laouini D. Genetic micro-heterogeneity of Leishmania major in emerging foci of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis in Tunisia. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2016; 43:179-85. [PMID: 27137082 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2016.04.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2016] [Revised: 04/27/2016] [Accepted: 04/28/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Tunisia is endemic for zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL), a parasitic disease caused by Leishmania (L.) major. ZCL displays a wide clinical polymorphism, with severe forms present more frequently in emerging foci where naive populations are dominant. In this study, we applied the multi-locus microsatellite typing (MLMT) using ten highly informative and discriminative markers to investigate the genetic structure of 35 Tunisian Leishmania (L.) major isolates collected from patients living in five different foci of Central Tunisia (two old and three emerging foci). Phylogenetic reconstructions based on genetic distances showed that nine of the ten tested loci were homogeneous in all isolates with homozygous alleles, whereas one locus (71AT) had a 58/64-bp bi-allelic profile with an allele linked to emerging foci. Promastigote-stage parasites with the 58-bp allele tend to be more resistant to in vitro complement lysis. These results, which stress the geographical dependence of the genetic micro-heterogeneity, may improve our understanding of the ZCL epidemiology and clinical outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanene Attia
- Institut Pasteur de Tunis, LR11IPT02, Laboratory of Transmission, Control and Immunobiology of Infections (LTCII), Tunis-Belvédère 1002, Tunisia; Université Tunis El Manar, Tunis 1068, Tunisia
| | - Rabiaa M Sghaier
- Institut Pasteur de Tunis, LR11IPT02, Laboratory of Transmission, Control and Immunobiology of Infections (LTCII), Tunis-Belvédère 1002, Tunisia; Université Tunis El Manar, Tunis 1068, Tunisia
| | - Tesfaye Gelanew
- Institut für Mikrobiologie und Hygiene, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Aymen Bali
- Institut Pasteur de Tunis, LR11IPT02, Laboratory of Transmission, Control and Immunobiology of Infections (LTCII), Tunis-Belvédère 1002, Tunisia; Université Tunis El Manar, Tunis 1068, Tunisia
| | - Carola Schweynoch
- Institut für Mikrobiologie und Hygiene, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Fatma Z Guerfali
- Institut Pasteur de Tunis, LR11IPT02, Laboratory of Transmission, Control and Immunobiology of Infections (LTCII), Tunis-Belvédère 1002, Tunisia; Université Tunis El Manar, Tunis 1068, Tunisia
| | - Ghada Mkannez
- Institut Pasteur de Tunis, LR11IPT02, Laboratory of Transmission, Control and Immunobiology of Infections (LTCII), Tunis-Belvédère 1002, Tunisia; Université Tunis El Manar, Tunis 1068, Tunisia
| | - Sadok Chlif
- Institut Pasteur de Tunis, LR11IPT02, Laboratory of Transmission, Control and Immunobiology of Infections (LTCII), Tunis-Belvédère 1002, Tunisia; Université Tunis El Manar, Tunis 1068, Tunisia; Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Service of Medical Epidemiology, Tunis-Belvédère 1002, Tunisia
| | - Nabil Belhaj-Hamida
- Institut Pasteur de Tunis, LR11IPT02, Laboratory of Transmission, Control and Immunobiology of Infections (LTCII), Tunis-Belvédère 1002, Tunisia; Université Tunis El Manar, Tunis 1068, Tunisia; Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Service of Medical Epidemiology, Tunis-Belvédère 1002, Tunisia
| | - Koussay Dellagi
- Institut Pasteur de Tunis, LR11IPT02, Laboratory of Transmission, Control and Immunobiology of Infections (LTCII), Tunis-Belvédère 1002, Tunisia; Université Tunis El Manar, Tunis 1068, Tunisia
| | - Gabriele Schönian
- Institut für Mikrobiologie und Hygiene, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Dhafer Laouini
- Institut Pasteur de Tunis, LR11IPT02, Laboratory of Transmission, Control and Immunobiology of Infections (LTCII), Tunis-Belvédère 1002, Tunisia; Université Tunis El Manar, Tunis 1068, Tunisia.
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