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Kato H, Gomez EA, Seki C, Furumoto H, Martini-Robles L, Muzzio J, Calvopiña M, Velez L, Kubo M, Tabbabi A, Yamamoto DS, Hashiguchi Y. PCR-RFLP analyses of Leishmania species causing cutaneous and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis revealed distribution of genetically complex strains with hybrid and mito-nuclear discordance in Ecuador. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019; 13:e0007403. [PMID: 31059516 PMCID: PMC6522058 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2019] [Revised: 05/16/2019] [Accepted: 04/22/2019] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
PCR-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) analyses targeting multiple nuclear genes were established for the simple and practical identification of Leishmania species without using expensive equipment. This method was applied to 92 clinical samples collected at 33 sites in 14 provinces of Ecuador, which have been identified at the species level by the kinetoplast cytochrome b (cyt b) gene sequence analysis, and the results obtained by the two analyses were compared. Although most results corresponded between the two analyses, PCR-RFLP analyses revealed distribution of hybrid strains between Leishmania (Viannia) guyanensis and L. (V.) braziliensis and between L. (V.) guyanensis and L. (V.) panamensis, of which the latter was firstly identified in Ecuador. Moreover, unexpected parasite strains having the kinetoplast cyt b gene of L. (V.) braziliensis and nuclear genes of L. (V.) guyanensis, L. (V.) panamensis, or a hybrid between L. (V.) guyanensis and L. (V.) panamensis were identified. This is the first report of the distribution of a protozoan parasite having mismatches between kinetoplast and nuclear genes, known as mito-nuclear discordance. The result demonstrated that genetically complex Leishmania strains are present in Ecuador. Since genetic exchanges such as hybrid formation were suggested to cause higher pathogenicity in Leishmania and may be transmitted by more species of sand flies, further country-wide epidemiological studies on clinical symptoms, as well as transmissible vectors, will be necessary. Leishmaniasis caused by intracellular protozoa of the genus Leishmania is a neglected tropical disease widely distributing worldwide, especially in tropical and subtropical areas. Approximately 20 species are known to be pathogenic to humans, of which eight species have been recorded as causative agents of cutaneous and mucocutaneous leishmaniases in Ecuador. Since infecting species are the major determinant of clinical outcomes, identification at the species level is important for the treatment and prognosis. The parasite species have been identified conventionally by multilocus enzyme electrophoresis (MLEE) and recently by genetic analysis such as sequencing and genotyping. In the present study, PCR-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) targeting multiple nuclear genes was employed, and the results were compared with those obtained by kinetoplast cytochrome b (cyt b) gene sequence analysis, which is widely applied to species identification. Although most results corresponded between the two analyses, PCR-RFLP revealed presence of unexpected genetically complex Leishmania strains having characteristics of hybrid and mito-nuclear discordance. Since hybrid strains of Leishmania were suggested to increase disease severity and may be transmitted by a wider range of sand fly species, careful epidemiological research, including clinical courses and vector research, will be needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hirotomo Kato
- Division of Medical Zoology, Department of Infection and Immunity, Jichi Medical University, Tochigi, Japan
- * E-mail:
| | - Eduardo A. Gomez
- Departamento de Parasitologia y Medicina Tropical, Facultad de Ciencias Medicas, Universidad Catolica de Santiago de Guayaquil, Guayaquil, Ecuador
| | - Chisato Seki
- Division of Medical Zoology, Department of Infection and Immunity, Jichi Medical University, Tochigi, Japan
| | - Hayato Furumoto
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Department of Disease Control, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Luiggi Martini-Robles
- Hospital de Especialidades Guayaquil “Dr. Abel Gilberto Pinton”, Ministerio de Salud Publica, Guayaquil, Ecuador
| | - Jenny Muzzio
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Insitituto de Investigacion de Salud Publica, Guayaquil, Ecuador
| | - Manuel Calvopiña
- Escuela de Medicina, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad De Las Américas (UDLA), Quito, Ecuador
| | - Lenin Velez
- Departamento de Parasitologia y Medicina Tropical, Facultad de Ciencias Medicas, Universidad Catolica de Santiago de Guayaquil, Guayaquil, Ecuador
| | - Makoto Kubo
- Division of Immunology, Kitasato University School of Allied Health Sciences, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Ahmed Tabbabi
- Division of Medical Zoology, Department of Infection and Immunity, Jichi Medical University, Tochigi, Japan
| | - Daisuke S. Yamamoto
- Division of Medical Zoology, Department of Infection and Immunity, Jichi Medical University, Tochigi, Japan
| | - Yoshihisa Hashiguchi
- Departamento de Parasitologia y Medicina Tropical, Facultad de Ciencias Medicas, Universidad Catolica de Santiago de Guayaquil, Guayaquil, Ecuador
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Kato H, Gomez EA, Martini-Robles L, Muzzio J, Velez L, Calvopiña M, Romero-Alvarez D, Mimori T, Uezato H, Hashiguchi Y. Geographic Distribution of Leishmania Species in Ecuador Based on the Cytochrome B Gene Sequence Analysis. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2016; 10:e0004844. [PMID: 27410039 PMCID: PMC4943627 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0004844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2016] [Accepted: 06/22/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
A countrywide epidemiological study was performed to elucidate the current geographic distribution of causative species of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in Ecuador by using FTA card-spotted samples and smear slides as DNA sources. Putative Leishmania in 165 samples collected from patients with CL in 16 provinces of Ecuador were examined at the species level based on the cytochrome b gene sequence analysis. Of these, 125 samples were successfully identified as Leishmania (Viannia) guyanensis, L. (V.) braziliensis, L. (V.) naiffi, L. (V.) lainsoni, and L. (Leishmania) mexicana. Two dominant species, L. (V.) guyanensis and L. (V.) braziliensis, were widely distributed in Pacific coast subtropical and Amazonian tropical areas, respectively. Recently reported L. (V.) naiffi and L. (V.) lainsoni were identified in Amazonian areas, and L. (L.) mexicana was identified in an Andean highland area. Importantly, the present study demonstrated that cases of L. (V.) braziliensis infection are increasing in Pacific coast areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hirotomo Kato
- Division of Medical Zoology, Department of Infection and Immunity, Jichi Medical University, Tochigi, Japan
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Department of Disease Control, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Hokkaido, Japan
- * E-mail:
| | - Eduardo A. Gomez
- Departamento de Parasitologia y Medicina Tropical, Facultad de Ciencias Medicas, Universidad Catolica de Santiago de Guayaquil, Guayaquil, Ecuador
| | - Luiggi Martini-Robles
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Insitituto de Investigacion de Salud Publica, Guayaquil, Ecuador
| | - Jenny Muzzio
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Insitituto de Investigacion de Salud Publica, Guayaquil, Ecuador
| | - Lenin Velez
- Departamento de Parasitologia y Medicina Tropical, Facultad de Ciencias Medicas, Universidad Catolica de Santiago de Guayaquil, Guayaquil, Ecuador
| | - Manuel Calvopiña
- Centro de Biomedicina, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Central del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Daniel Romero-Alvarez
- Centro de Biomedicina, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Central del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Tatsuyuki Mimori
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Uezato
- Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Yoshihisa Hashiguchi
- Departamento de Parasitologia y Medicina Tropical, Facultad de Ciencias Medicas, Universidad Catolica de Santiago de Guayaquil, Guayaquil, Ecuador
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