First isolation of a new species of Leishmania responsible for human cutaneous leishmaniasis in Ghana and classification in the Leishmania enriettii complex

Abstract

An active case detection approach with PCR diagnosis was used in the Ho District of the Volta Region, Ghana that identified individuals with active cutaneous leishmaniasis. Three isolates were successfully cultured and DNA sequences from these were analysed (ribosomal RNA internal transcribed spacer 1; ribosomal protein L23a intergenic spacer; RNA polymerase II large subunit), showing them to be Leishmania, identical to each other but different from all other known Leishmania spp. Phylogenetic analysis showed the parasites to be new members of the Leishmania enriettii complex, which is emerging as a possible new subgenus of Leishmania parasites containing human pathogens.

Isolation of Novel Trypanosomatid, Zelonia australiensis sp. nov. (Kinetoplastida: Trypanosomatidae) Provides Support for a Gondwanan Origin of Dixenous Parasitism in the Leishmaniinae

“…'siamensis', as a cause of human VL, predominantly in immunosuppressed patients [67–70]. As discussed by other investigators [46], Leishmania 'siamensis' represents a nomen nudum , and is shown inverted commas here as a consequence. Leishmania 'siamensis' was detected in horses from the USA and central Europe [71, 72], and in Swiss cows [73].…”

“…This led to the interpretation that a dixenous life cycle had evolved in the Leishmaniinae roughly 100 MYA in the Old World, and supported that Cretaceous reptiles were the first vertebrate hosts of the earliest dixenous Leishmaniinae [6, 8, 9]. However, this interpretation is not supported by current phylogenies that do not place the Sauroleishmania in a basal position or sister clade to all other Leishmania species [3, 46–49] (Fig 8). …”

“…martiniquensis in Thailand [46], resulting in misidentification in some cases [46, 74]. Additionally, a unique Mundinia parasite was only recently identified as a cause of human CL in Ghana [46], though this organism is yet to be named. Leishmania ( M .)…”

“…enrietti diverged within the last 10 million years [3, 46]. These species have been observed in only a few restricted regions implying that their native range is limited.…”

The genome of Leishmania adleri from a mammalian host highlights chromosome fission in Sauroleishmania

“…The phylogenetic position of Sauroleishmania between the mammal-infecting subgenera Leishmania and Viannia 151617 suggests that it represents a widespread lineage of Leishmania that switched from mammals to reptiles as their main hosts. Sauroleishmania member L. tarentolae is a non-pathogenic lab model because it rapidly replicates in lizards.…”