Multilocus Microsatellite Typing reveals intra-focal genetic diversity among strains of Leishmania tropica in Chichaoua Province, Morocco

Abstract

In Morocco, cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) caused by Leishmania (L.) tropica is a major public health threat. Strains of this species have been shown to display considerable serological, biochemical, molecular biological and genetic heterogeneity; and Multilocus Enzyme Electrophoresis (MLEE), has shown that in many countries including Morocco heterogenic variants of L. tropica can co-exist in single geographical foci. Here, the microsatellite profiles discerned by MLMT of nine Moroccan strains of L. tropica isolated in 2000 from human cases of CL from Chichaoua Province were compared to those of nine Moroccan strains of L. tropica isolated between 1988 and 1990 from human cases of CL from Marrakech Province, and also to those of 147 strains of L. tropica isolated at different times from different worldwide geographical locations within the range of distribution of the species. Several programs, each employing a different algorithm, were used for population genetic analysis. The strains from each of the two Moroccan foci separated into two phylogenetic clusters independent of their geographical origin. Genetic diversity and heterogeneity existed in both foci, which are geographically close to each other. This intra-focal distribution of genetic variants of L. tropica is not considered owing to in situ mutation. Rather, it is proposed to be explained by the importation of pre-existing variants of L. tropica into Morocco.

Epidemiological analysis of Leishmania tropica strains and giemsa-stained smears from Syrian and Turkish leishmaniasis patients using multilocus microsatellite typing (MLMT)

“…tropica strains from different regions revealed that two main parasite populations exist in Turkey. Isolates from Şanlıurfa created a unique subpopulation and all Turkish isolates were clustered in a different population, which differs from Moroccan, but correlates with previous isolates from Israel and Palestine [28]. The MLMT data of the isolates clustered in Şanlıurfa population correlate with findings of previous study and noted to be the major L .…”

“…The possible reason for this kind of minor changes in microsatellite markers may be the immune status and capability of the patients. Additionally, it can be due to the clonal isolation of the parasite by culturing as previously reported [28]. …”

“…The MLMT data of the isolates clustered in Şanlıurfa population correlate with findings of previous study and noted to be the major L . tropica population of Turkey [28]. One L .…”

No Evidence of Interspecific Genetic Exchange by Multi-Locus Microsatellite Typing Between Leishmania Killicki and Leishmania Major in a Mixed Focus of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Southeast Tunisia

“…We could not further investigate the population structure of this species in Tataouine because of the reduced sample size and low level of genetic diversity, Despite the low level of genetic diversity in each species, the marked differentiation between L.major and L.killicki allowed us to explore patterns of hybridization between the two specie. Furthermore, since the microsatellites are co-dominant and generally neutral markers [52], they have been widely used to study genetic exchange within many organisms [53][54][55] of which Leishmania at both intra and interspecific level (between L. (Viannia) braziliensis and L. (Viannia) guyanensis [17]; between L.braziliensis and L. peruviana [23]; between L.guyanensis and L.panamensis [56]; between MON-1 and MON-24-80 of L. infantum [29,57]; between MON-1 and non MON-1 of L.infantum [58]; within L.tropica [59,60]; within L. donovani [31]. In our sample, neither the raw data nor the phenetic analysis suggests the occurrence of interspecific genetic exchange.…”

Variability of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Lesions Is Not Associated with Genetic Diversity of Leishmania tropica in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province of Pakistan

“…Microsatellite profiles previously described for 145 strains by Schwenkenbecher et al, 14 and Krayter et al 31,32 were included for comparison (Table 1, Supplemental Table 1). The GT4 locus was only used for the isolates typed at LSHTM whereas 27GTG was not used by Schwenkenbecher et al 14 Data for two loci, GT4 and 27GTG, were not available for all isolates in the extended set and were treated as missing data in those cases.…”