This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Minodier, P. Articles by Dumon, H. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Minodier, P. Articles by Dumon, H.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Journal of Clinical Microbiology, Oct 1997, 2551-2555, Vol 35, No. 10
Copyright © 1997 by the American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.

Rapid identification of causative species in patients with Old World leishmaniasis

P Minodier, R Piarroux, F Gambarelli, C Joblet and H Dumon
Laboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie, CHU Timone, Marseille, France.

Conventional methods for the identification of species of Leishmania parasite causing infections have limitations. By using a DNA-based alternative, the present study tries to develop a new tool for this purpose. Thirty-three patients living in Marseilles (in the south of France) were suffering from visceral or cutaneous leishmaniasis. DNA of the parasite in clinical samples (bone marrow, peripheral blood, or skin) from these patients were amplified by PCR and were directly sequenced. The sequences observed were compared to these of 30 strains of the genus causing Old World leishmaniasis collected in Europe, Africa, or Asia. In the analysis of the sequences of the strains, two different sequence patterns for Leishmania infantum, one sequence for Leishmania donovani, one sequence for Leishmania major, two sequences for Leishmania tropica, and one sequence for Leishmania aethiopica were obtained. Four sequences were observed among the strains from the patients: one was similar to the sequence for the L. major strains, two were identical to the sequences for the L. infantum strains, and the last sequence was not observed within the strains but had a high degree of homology with the sequences of the L. infantum and L. donovani strains. The L. infantum strains from all immunocompetent patients had the same sequence. The L. infantum strains from immunodeficient patients suffering from visceral leishmaniasis had three different sequences. This fact might signify that some variants of L. infantum acquire pathogenicity exclusively in immunocompromised patients. To dispense with the sequencing step, a restriction assay with HaeIII was used. Some restriction patterns might support genetic exchanges in members of the genus Leishmania.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Alvar, J., Bashaye, S., Argaw, D., Cruz, I., Aparicio, P., Kassa, A., Orfanos, G., Parreno, F., Babaniyi, O., Gudeta, N., Canavate, C., Bern, C. (2007). Kala-Azar Outbreak in Libo Kemkem, Ethiopia: Epidemiologic and Parasitologic Assessment. Am J Trop Med Hyg 77: 275-282 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• KUMAR, R., BUMB, R. A., ANSARI, N. A., MEHTA, R. D., SALOTRA, P. (2007). CUTANEOUS LEISHMANIASIS CAUSED BY LEISHMANIA TROPICA IN BIKANER, INDIA: PARASITE IDENTIFICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION USING MOLECULAR AND IMMUNOLOGIC TOOLS. Am J Trop Med Hyg 76: 896-901 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Stark, D., Pett, S., Marriott, D., Harkness, J. (2006). Post-Kala-Azar Dermal Leishmaniasis Due to Leishmania infantum in a Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1-Infected Patient.. J. Clin. Microbiol. 44: 1178-1180 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• SARIDOMICHELAKIS, M. N., MYLONAKIS, M. E., LEONTIDES, L. S., KOUTINAS, A. F., BILLINIS, C., KONTOS, V. I. (2005). EVALUATION OF LYMPH NODE AND BONE MARROW CYTOLOGY IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF CANINE LEISHMANIASIS (LEISHMANIA INFANTUM) IN SYMPTOMATIC AND ASYMPTOMATIC DOGS. Am J Trop Med Hyg 73: 82-86 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Marfurt, J., Nasereddin, A., Niederwieser, I., Jaffe, C. L., Beck, H.-P., Felger, I. (2003). Identification and Differentiation of Leishmania Species in Clinical Samples by PCR Amplification of the Miniexon Sequence and Subsequent Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism Analysis. J. Clin. Microbiol. 41: 3147-3153 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Gangneux, J.-P., Menotti, J., Lorenzo, F., Sarfati, C., Blanche, H., Bui, H., Pratlong, F., Garin, Y.-J.-F., Derouin, F. (2003). Prospective Value of PCR Amplification and Sequencing for Diagnosis and Typing of Old World Leishmania Infections in an Area of Nonendemicity. J. Clin. Microbiol. 41: 1419-1422 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Sundar, S., Rai, M. (2002). Laboratory Diagnosis of Visceral Leishmaniasis. CVI 9: 951-958 [Full Text]  
• Bulle, B., Millon, L., Bart, J.-M., Gallego, M., Gambarelli, F., Portus, M., Schnur, L., Jaffe, C. L., Fernandez-Barredo, S., Alunda, J. M., Piarroux, R. (2002). Practical Approach for Typing Strains of Leishmania infantum by Microsatellite Analysis. J. Clin. Microbiol. 40: 3391-3397 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Pizzuto, M., Piazza, M., Senese, D., Scalamogna, C., Calattini, S., Corsico, L., Persico, T., Adriani, B., Magni, C., Guaraldi, G., Gaiera, G., Ludovisi, A., Gramiccia, M., Galli, M., Moroni, M., Corbellino, M., Antinori, S. (2001). Role of PCR in Diagnosis and Prognosis of Visceral Leishmaniasis in Patients Coinfected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1. J. Clin. Microbiol. 39: 357-361 [Abstract] [Full Text]