Leishmania (Viannia) lainsoni (Kinetoplastida: Trypanosomatidae), a divergent Leishmania of the Viannia subgenus: a mini review

Abstract

Leishmania (Viannia) lainsoni is the Leishmania species that presents the most distinct biological (morphology, growth in axenic culture medium), biochemical (enzymatic electrophoresis profile), and molecular biology characteristics, when compared to other species of the Viannia subgenus. Development of promastigote forms of this parasite attached to the wall of the pyloric and hind gut regions of sand fly vectors is a solid characteristic that allows its positioning in the Viannia subgenus. However, taxonomic data from biochemical and molecular techniques on this Leishmania species are still not conclusive. It is evident the difficulty in taxonomically positioning this borderline Leishmania species. In this review we present the data accumulated since L. (Viannia) lainsoni has been described and we discuss its position in the Viannia subgenus.

Simultaneous Infection with Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis and L. (V.) lainsoni in a Peruvian Patient with Cutaneous Leishmaniasis

“…[27][28][29] Thus, this case adds to the scientific literature regarding the epidemiology of this protozoan parasite.…”

“…Leishmania (V.) lainsoni is known to exist in the Brazilian Amazon region, 27 the Department of La Paz, Bolivia, 28 and the sub-Andean or high jungle regions of Peru. 1,29 Although the preferred vector of L. (V.) lainsoni, Lutzomyia ubiquitalis, has been found in Madre de Dios, 27 this report is the first documented case of probable human infection occurring from this region. In their study of the geographic distribution of leishmaniasis in Peru based on 350 clinical samples from patients in 15 Peruvian departments, Lucas and others isolated L. (V.) lainsoni from seven patients in high jungle regions.…”

Sand Fly Vectors of Leishmania in the Americas - A Mini Review

“…In Pará and probably other area of the Amazon region Trichophoromyia ubiquitalis is the main vector, but his poor anthropophily certainly determines the existence of few human cases. Two other species may be responsible for transmission of L. lainsoni in the sub-Andean region of Bolivia: Pintomyia (Pifanomyia) nuneztovari and Trichophoromyia velascoi [30,31]. Recently, Trichophoromyia auraensis (Mangabeira,1942) has also found infected by L. lainsoni in Madre de Dios region of Peru [32] however, further studies are needed to determine actually the main vector in both regions of Bolivia and Peru.…”

Leishmania (Viannia) shawi purified antigens confer protection against murine cutaneous leishmaniasis

“…In the New World, there are several different parasites belonging to the Viannia subgenus [24][25][26], but unfortunately few of them have been studied in relation to their immunogenicity and protective potential in experimental immunizations. Concerning L. (V.) shawi, the first human case of infection was recorded in northern Brazil in 1991 [27], and this parasite species has been found recently in the northeast of Brazil suggesting parasite spread within Brazilian territory [28], which justifies the development of prophylactic measures against this parasite.…”