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de Araújo HK, de Oliveira Castro S, da Silva Valejo MJA, da Costa Lima Junior MS, Neitzke-Abreu HC. LIMITATION OF PRIMERS USED IN PCR FOR THE CHARACTERIZATION OF LEISHMANIA INFANTUM. J Parasitol 2023; 109:445-449. [PMID: 37668295 DOI: 10.1645/21-130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Conventional PCR provides Leishmania species characterization with even a small amount of biological material. Species-specific primers have been a widely used alternative; however, nonspecific amplifications are a reality, interfering with PCR efficiency. In endemic areas with multiple etiological agents for leishmaniasis, there is a requirement for higher specificity of primers. This study evaluates 3 pairs of primers described for the identification and characterization of Leishmania infantum. Primers RV1/RV2, LEISH1/LEISH2, and FLC2/RLC2 were used with the DNA of L. infantum, Leishmania amazonensis, and Leishmania braziliensis. An initial temperature curve was performed (52-62 C) to determine the optimal annealing temperature, followed by a dilution curve of Leishmania DNA (500 pg/μl, 50 pg/μl, 5 pg/μl, 500 fg/μl, 50 fg/μl, 5 fg/μl, and 0.5 fg/μl) to be used for analytical sensitivity. RV1/RV2 PCR amplified L. infantum and L. amazonensis at all analyzed temperatures; LEISH1/LEISH2 PCR amplified all 3 species of Leishmania, although at some temperatures L. infantum was specifically amplified, and, finally, FLC2/RLC2 PCR amplified only L. infantum at all temperatures analyzed. In terms of sensitivity, RV1/RV2 PCR detected 1 fg of L. infantum DNA and 100 pg of L. amazonensis DNA; LEISH1/LEISH2 PCR detected 1 fg of L. infantum DNA, 100 fg of L. amazonensis DNA, and 10 fg of L. braziliensis DNA; and FLC2/RLC2 PCR detected 10 fg of L. infantum DNA. Thus, PCR with FLC2/RLC2 primers is best suited for the molecular characterization of L. infantum, especially in areas where there is an incidence of more than 1 Leishmania species, such as South America.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helton Krisman de Araújo
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados (UFGD), 79804-070, Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil
| | - Silvana de Oliveira Castro
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados (UFGD), 79804-070, Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil
| | - Maria Joelma Alves da Silva Valejo
- Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados (UFGD), 79804-070, Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil
| | | | - Herintha Coeto Neitzke-Abreu
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados (UFGD), 79804-070, Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil
- Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados (UFGD), 79804-070, Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil
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Li X, Wang J, Curtin K, Li P. Microfluidic Continuous Flow DNA Fragmentation based on a Vibrating Sharp-tip. MICROFLUIDICS AND NANOFLUIDICS 2022; 26:104. [PMID: 38130602 PMCID: PMC10735211 DOI: 10.1007/s10404-022-02610-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Fragmentation of DNA into short fragments is of great importance for detecting and studying DNAs. Current microfluidic methods of DNA fragmentation are either inefficient for generating small fragments or rely on microbubbles. Here, we report a DNA fragmentation method in a 3D-printed microfluidic device, which allows efficient continuous flow fragmentation of genomic DNAs without the need for microbubbles. This method is enabled by localized acoustic streaming induced by a single vibrating sharp-tip. Genomic DNAs were fragmented into 700 to 3000 bp fragments with a low power consumption of ~140 mW. The system demonstrated successful fragmentation under a wide range of flow rates from 1 to 50 μL/min without the need for air bubbles. Finally, the utility of the continuous DNA fragmentation method was demonstrated to accelerate the DNA hybridization process for biosensing. Due to the small footprint, continuous flow and bubble-free operation, and high fragmentation efficiency, this method demonstrated great potential for coupling with other functional microfluidic units to achieve an integrated DNA analysis platform.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojun Li
- C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Jing Wang
- C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Kathrine Curtin
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Peng Li
- C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA
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Solomon M, Gimple A, Fuchs I, Cicurel A, Meninger T, Avni D, Nasereddin A, Jaffe CL, Schwartz E. Failure to Detect Leishmania in the Blood of Patients with Old-World Cutaneous Leishmaniasis: Implications for Blood Donation. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2022; 107:996-998. [PMID: 36216319 PMCID: PMC9709017 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.21-1120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is endemic in Israel, caused mainly by Leishmania major (L. major) and L. tropica. In addition, returning travelers import another leishmanial species such as L. braziliensis. Although we are dealing with a skin disease, the blood bank in Israel does not accept blood donations from people infected with CL in cases of multiple lesions due to the possibility of transfusion. Our purpose was to investigate the prevalence of Leishmania in the blood of patients with active or previous CL. This pilot study screened patients with active or previous CL for parasites in their blood. All patients were infected in Israel or were returning travelers with leishmaniasis acquired in Latin America. Patients were seen at the Sheba Medical Center. In addition, patients were seen at their homes in L. tropica and L. major endemic regions in Israel. Blood samples were taken from each patient for culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Altogether 62 blood samples were examined (L. tropica = 26, L. major = 33, and L. braziliensis = 3). Twenty-seven patients had an active disease and 35 were recovered. All blood cultures and PCR were negative for parasites except one blood sample that was PCR positive for L. braziliensis. The findings of our study, although a small sample, suggest that people with active or recent CL caused by L. major and L. tropica, do not harbor parasites in their blood. Thus, their exclusion from blood donation should be revisited. Further studies are needed with larger sample size and highly sensitive tests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michal Solomon
- Department of Dermatology, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel
- The Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Ariel Gimple
- Department of Dermatology, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel
- The Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Inbal Fuchs
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Family Medicine, Ben Gurion University, Clalit Health Services, Southern District, Beersheba, Israel
| | - Assi Cicurel
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Family Medicine, Ben Gurion University, Clalit Health Services, Southern District, Beersheba, Israel
| | - Tal Meninger
- The Institute of Geographic Medicine and Tropical Diseases and the Laboratory for Tropical Diseases Research, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel
| | - Dror Avni
- The Institute of Geographic Medicine and Tropical Diseases and the Laboratory for Tropical Diseases Research, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel
| | - Abed Nasereddin
- Department Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Kuvin Center, The Hebrew University - Hadassah Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Charles L. Jaffe
- Department Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Kuvin Center, The Hebrew University - Hadassah Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Eli Schwartz
- The Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- The Institute of Geographic Medicine and Tropical Diseases and the Laboratory for Tropical Diseases Research, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel
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Ramos-Sanchez EM, Reis LC, Souza MDA, Muxel SM, Santos KR, Lagos D, Pereira VRA, de Brito MEF, Kaye PM, Floeter-Winter LM, Goto H. miR-548d-3p Is Up-Regulated in Human Visceral Leishmaniasis and Suppresses Parasite Growth in Macrophages. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:826039. [PMID: 35265535 PMCID: PMC8900537 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.826039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Visceral leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum in Latin America progress with hepatosplenomegaly, pancytopenia, hypergammaglobulinemia, and weight loss and maybe lethal mainly in untreated cases. miRNAs are important regulators of immune and inflammatory gene expression, but their mechanisms of action and their relationship to pathogenesis in leishmaniasis are not well understood. In the present study, we sought to quantify changes in miRNAs associated with immune and inflammatory pathways using the L. (L.) infantum promastigote infected- human monocytic THP-1 cell model and plasma from patients with visceral leishmaniasis. We identified differentially expressed miRNAs in infected THP-1 cells compared with non-infected cells using qPCR arrays. These miRNAs were submitted to in silico analysis, revealing targets within functional pathways associated with TGF-β, chemokines, glucose metabolism, inflammation, apoptosis, and cell signaling. In parallel, we identified differentially expressed miRNAs in active visceral leishmaniasis patient plasma compared with endemic healthy controls. In silico analysis of these data indicated different predicted targets within the TGF-β, TLR4, IGF-I, chemokine, and HIF1α pathways. Only a small number of miRNAs were commonly identified in these two datasets, notably with miR-548d-3p being up-regulated in both conditions. To evaluate the potential biological role of miR-548d-3p, we transiently transfected a miR-548d-3p inhibitor into L. (L.) infantum infected-THP-1 cells, finding that inhibition of miR-548d-3p enhanced parasite growth, likely mediated through reduced levels of MCP-1/CCL2 and nitric oxide production. Further work will be required to determine how miR-548d-3p plays a role in vivo and whether it serves as a potential biomarker of progressive leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo Milton Ramos-Sanchez
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo (IMTSP/USP), São Paulo, Brazil
- Departamento de Salud Publica, Facultad de Ciencias de La Salud, Universidad Nacional Toribio Rodriguez de Mendoza de Amazonas, Chachapoyas, Peru
- Graduate Program in Animal Science, Agrarian Sciences Center (CCA), Federal University of Paraiba (UFPB), Areia, Brazil
| | - Luiza Campos Reis
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo (IMTSP/USP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marina de Assis Souza
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo (IMTSP/USP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Sandra Márcia Muxel
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Kamila Reis Santos
- Veterinary Clinical Immunology Research Group, Departamento de Clínica Médica, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Dimitris Lagos
- York Biomedical Research Institute, Hull York Medical School, University of York, York, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Paul Martin Kaye
- York Biomedical Research Institute, Hull York Medical School, University of York, York, United Kingdom
| | | | - Hiro Goto
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo (IMTSP/USP), São Paulo, Brazil
- Departamento de Medicina Preventiva, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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Conter CC, Mota CA, Dos Santos BA, de Souza Braga L, de Souza Terron M, Navasconi TR, Fernandes ACBS, Demarchi IG, de Castro KRR, Aristides SMA, Lonardoni MVC, Teixeira JJV, Silveira TGV. PCR primers designed for new world Leishmania: A systematic review. Exp Parasitol 2019; 207:107773. [PMID: 31605671 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2019.107773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2019] [Revised: 10/07/2019] [Accepted: 10/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Studies of the primers that were designed to detect New World Leishmania were systematically reviewed to report the characteristics of each target, detection limit, specificity of the primers designed and diagnostic sensibility. The papers identified in the databases PubMed and Web of Science involved 50 studies. Minicircle is the most applied target in molecular research for diagnosis, due to its high sensitivity in detecting Leishmania in different clinical samples, a characteristic that can be partially attributed to the higher number of copies of the minicircle per cell. The other molecular targets shown in this review were less sensitive to diagnostic use because of the lower number of copies of the target gene per cell, but more specific for identification of the subgenus and/or species. The choice of the best target is an important step towards the result of the research. The target allows the design of primers that are specific to the genus, subgenus or a particular species and also imparts sensitivity to the method for diagnosis. The findings of this systematic review provide the advantages and disadvantages of the main molecular targets and primers designed for New World Leishmania, offering information so that the researcher can choose the PCR system best suited to their research need. This is a timely and extremely thorough review of the primers designed for New World Leishmania.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Cella Conter
- Graduate Program in Health Sciences, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Camila Alves Mota
- Graduate Program in Health Sciences, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil
| | | | - Laís de Souza Braga
- Graduate Program in Health Sciences, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil
| | | | - Taísa Rocha Navasconi
- Graduate Program in Health Sciences, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil
| | | | - Izabel Galhardo Demarchi
- Department of Clinical Analyses and Biomedicine, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil
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dos Santos Brighente KB, Cutolo AA, Motoie G, da Silva Meira-Strejevitch C, Pereira-Chioccola VL. Molecular detection of Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum in phlebotomine sandflies from a visceral leishmaniasis endemic area in northwestern of São Paulo State, Brazil. Acta Trop 2018; 181:1-5. [PMID: 29373820 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2018.01.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2016] [Revised: 10/16/2017] [Accepted: 01/22/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
This study identified the natural infection rate of Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum in Lutzomyia longipalpis sandflies collected in a neighborhood around a kennel, in Dracena, northwestern of São Paulo state. This region is highly endemic for visceral leishmaniasis in Brazil. Insects were captured during 2-3 nights monthly for 11 months (January-November 2012) using 10 automatic light traps around a kennel in a transition between periurban and urban neighborhood. Capture aimed the determination of the minimal infection rate (MIR) on the area. A total of 1690 Lu. longipalpis were captured during the studied period. Out of them, 292 (17.25%) were females and were grouped in 165 pools containing 1 to five insects for DNA extraction and PCR analysis. Positive results for L. (L) infantum in conventional PCR and real time PCR were shown in 7.28% (12/165) and 4.85% (8/165) of the analysis respectively. These data confirm that Lu. longipalpis captured in the study area were infected by L. (L.) infantum. The MIR of sandflies during the 11 months of captures was 4.10% for female the total of 292 female sandflies collected. A high DNA concentration of L. (L.) infantum was detected on sandflies especially in kennel, chicken coop and neighboring houses, where higher abundance of hosts for blood source were present.
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New primers for the detection Leishmania species by multiplex polymerase chain reaction. Parasitol Res 2017; 117:501-511. [PMID: 29280072 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-017-5726-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2017] [Accepted: 12/14/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is caused by protozoa of the Leishmania genus, which is divided into subgenus Viannia and Leishmania. In humans, the course of infection largely depends on the host-parasite relationship and primarily of the infective species. The objective of the present study was to design specific primers to the identification of Leishmania species using multiplex PCR. Four primers were designed, based on the GenBank sequences of the kDNA minicircle, amplifying 127 bp for subgenus Viannia, 100 bp for L. amazonensis, and 60 bp for Leishmania donovani complex and L. major. None of the primers amplified Trypanosoma cruzi or L. mexicana. The limit of detection of multiplex PCR was 2 × 10-5 parasites for L. braziliensis, 2 x 10-3 parasites for L. amazonensis, and 1.4 × 10-3 parasites for L. infantum. The high sensitivity of multiplex PCR was confirmed by the detection of parasites in different biological samples, including lesion scrapings, spleen imprinting of a hamster, sandflies, and blood. The multiplex PCR that was developed herein presented good performance with regard to detecting and identifying the parasite in different biological samples and may thus be useful for diagnosis, decision making with regard to the proper therapeutic approach, and determining the geographic distribution of Leishmania species.
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Beyhan YE, Karakus M, Karagoz A, Mungan M, Ozkan AT, Hokelek M. Detection and identification of cutaneous leishmaniasis isolates by culture, Polymerase chain reaction and sequence analyses in Syrian and Central Anatolia patients. Saudi Med J 2017; 38:968-971. [PMID: 28889158 PMCID: PMC5654034 DOI: 10.15537/smj.2017.9.21025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2017] [Accepted: 08/02/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To characterize the cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) isolates of Syrian and Central Anatolia patients at species levels. Methods: Skin scrapings of 3 patients (2 Syrian, 1 Turkish) were taken and examined by direct examination, culture in Novy-MacNeal-Nicole (NNN) medium, internal transcribed spacer polymerase chain reaction and sequence analysis (PCR). Results:According to microscopic examination, culture and PCR methods, 3 samples were detected positive. The sequencing results of all isolates in the study were identified as Leishmania tropica. The same genotypes were detected in the 3 isolates and nucleotide sequence submitted into GenBank with the accession number: KP689599. Conclusion: This finding could give information about the transmission of CL between Turkey and Syria. Because of the Syrian civil war, most of the Syrian citizens circulating in Turkey and different part of Europe, this can be increase the risk of spreading the disease. So, prevention measurements must be taken urgently.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunus E Beyhan
- Department of Medical Parasitology, aculty of Medicine, Yuzuncu Yil University, Van,Turkey. E-mail.
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Silva RC, Richini-Pereira VB, Kikuti M, Marson PM, Langoni H. Detection of Leishmania (L.) infantum in stray dogs by molecular techniques with sensitive species-specific primers. Vet Q 2016; 37:23-30. [PMID: 27774854 DOI: 10.1080/01652176.2016.1252073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) is a worldwide parasitic zoonosis caused by Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum around the world. Canids are the definitive hosts and sand flies the intermediate hosts. OBJECTIVE To test the hypothesis that a new species-specific primers (Lch14:Lch15, targeting a multiple alignment for L. infantum kDNA minicircle) is an efficient diagnostic tool for L. infantum. METHODS The presence of L. infantum DNA was assessed in blood samples of 69 stray dogs using the conventional PCR (cPCR) and quantitative PCR (qPCR). Additional 50 lymph nodes and 50 bone marrow samples (positive and negative samples for parasitological tests) from dogs from endemic and nonendemic areas for CVL were also used. RESULTS L. infantum strains, and all positive lymph node and bone marrow samples for parasitological test gave positive results for cPCR and qPCR, presenting analytical sensitivity of ∼100 parasite mL-1. For the blood samples, 40/69 (58%; CI 95%; 46%-69%) resulted positive for L. infantum in both tests. All positive samples were confirmed by sequencing. CONCLUSION This study showed the importance of the specific detection of L. infantum based on species-specific primers by molecular techniques, highlighting the application as a confirmation method in epidemiological studies and to adopt the best control measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo C Silva
- a Department of Pathobiology and Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine , Mississippi State University , Mississippi State , MS , USA
| | | | - Mariana Kikuti
- c Institute of Collective Health, Federal University of Bahia , Salvador , Brazil
| | - Pâmela M Marson
- d Department of Veterinary Hygiene and Public Health, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science , UNESP Universidade Estadual Paulista , Botucatu , Brazil
| | - Helio Langoni
- d Department of Veterinary Hygiene and Public Health, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science , UNESP Universidade Estadual Paulista , Botucatu , Brazil
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Nunes JB, Laurenti MD, Kanamura HY, Pereira AAC, Colombo FA, Marques MJ. Leishmania infantum INFECTION IN DOGS FROM THE SOUTHERN REGION OF MINAS GERAIS STATE, BRAZIL. Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo 2016; 58:75. [PMID: 27828616 PMCID: PMC5096629 DOI: 10.1590/s1678-9946201658075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2015] [Accepted: 05/13/2016] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Visceral leishmaniasis is a systemic and chronic disease and dogs are the main reservoir of the etiologic agent, Leishmania infantum (syn L. chagasi). A serological and molecular investigation of canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) was performed in the municipality of Alfenas, located in the southern region of Minas Gerais, where the disease is not endemic. Samples from 87 dogs were submitted to serological tests including the Dual Path Platform (DPP(r) ) CVL Bio-Manguinhos rapid test, an in-house enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and an immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT), as well as molecular techniques such as a conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with the RV1/RV2 primers and a quantitative PCR (qPCR) with the LinJ31, Ldon and DNApol primers. Of the 87 serum samples, eight (9.2%) were positive for Leishmania using the DPP rapid test, but only four (4.6%) were confirmed by ELISA and two (2.3%) by IFAT. In these two serologically confirmed cases, spleen and liver samples were positive by all the employed molecular and parasitological procedures performed on spleen samples. When whole blood samples were used in the molecular assays, two samples (2.3%) were positive only by qPCR. DNA extracted and amplified from the spleens of seropositive dogs was sequenced, showing 100% of similarity with the Leishmania infantum (syn L. chagasi) sequence. Thus, the first cases of CVL have been confirmed in the Alfenas region, suggesting the importance of canine surveys in non-endemic municipalities for CVL to monitor disease progression and to prevent outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana Barbosa Nunes
- Federal University of Alfenas, Institute of Biomedical Sciences. Alfenas, MG, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Fabio Antonio Colombo
- Federal University of Alfenas, Institute of Biomedical Sciences. Alfenas, MG, Brazil
| | - Marcos José Marques
- Federal University of Alfenas, Institute of Biomedical Sciences. Alfenas, MG, Brazil
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Toubanaki DK, Athanasiou E, Karagouni E. Gold nanoparticle-based lateral flow biosensor for rapid visual detection of Leishmania-specific DNA amplification products. J Microbiol Methods 2016; 127:51-58. [PMID: 27255490 DOI: 10.1016/j.mimet.2016.05.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2016] [Revised: 05/26/2016] [Accepted: 05/28/2016] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a disease, caused by Leishmania parasites, which infect humans and animals, posing a major social and economic burden worldwide. The need for accurate and sensitive disease diagnosis led to the widespread adoption of PCR amplification. Detection of the amplification products (i.e. gel electrophoresis) require time-consuming protocols performed by trained personnel, with high cost. Aim of the present study was the simplification of PCR product detection, using a nucleic acid lateral flow, combined with functionalized gold nanoparticles. Amplification reactions targeting kinetoplastid DNA of Leishmania spp were performed on canine blood samples and a positive signal was formed as a red test zone. The visual detection was completed in 20min. Extensive optimization enabled the detection of 100fmol of target DNA. Clinical samples of infected dog blood were analyzed with high specificity. Overall, the proposed lateral flow biosensor can be considered an appealing alternative platform for Leishmania-specific amplification products detection with low cost and attractive simplicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimitra K Toubanaki
- Laboratory of Cellular Immunology, Department of Microbiology, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, 127 Vas. Sofias Ave., 11521 Athens, Greece.
| | - Evita Athanasiou
- Laboratory of Cellular Immunology, Department of Microbiology, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, 127 Vas. Sofias Ave., 11521 Athens, Greece.
| | - Evdokia Karagouni
- Laboratory of Cellular Immunology, Department of Microbiology, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, 127 Vas. Sofias Ave., 11521 Athens, Greece.
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12
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Colombo FA, Pereira-Chioccola VL, Meira CDS, Motoie G, Gava R, Hiramoto RM, de Almeida ME, da Silva AJ, Cutolo AA, Menz I. Performance of a real time PCR for leishmaniasis diagnosis using a L. (L.) infantum hypothetical protein as target in canine samples. Exp Parasitol 2015; 157:156-62. [PMID: 26297683 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2015.08.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2015] [Revised: 07/20/2015] [Accepted: 08/16/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Visceral leishmaniasis represents an important public health issue in different parts of the world, requiring that measures be put in place to control the spread of the disease worldwide. The canine leishmaniasis diagnosis is not easy based on clinical signs, since dogs may not develop the infection with recognizable signs. Thus, the laboratorial diagnosis is essential to ascertain the incidence and prevalence of canine leishmaniasis especially in areas with major control efforts. Although, the diagnosis can be performed by the use of different approaches, the molecular methods such as PCR have become an indispensable tool for leishmaniases diagnosis. A TaqMan assay for real-time PCR (Linj31-qPCR) was developed to determine the parasite occurrence in clinical cases of leishmaniasis. The assay targets an L. (L.) infantum hypothetical protein region. The specificity of the assay was verified by using Leishmania World Health Organization reference strains including parasites belonging to subgenus L. (Leishmania), subgenus L. (Viannia), other Leishmania species and Trypanosoma cruzi. The sensitivity was verified by using isolates of L. (L.) amazonensis and L. (L.) infantum. The usefulness of the assay for diagnosis was ascertained by testing 277 samples from dogs in regions endemic for visceral and/or cutaneous leishmaniasis and from regions in which leishmaniasis was not endemic in São Paulo State, Brazil. Diagnosis of canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) was determined on these animals by conventional PCR and three serological tests. The dog samples were divided into four groups. I, dogs with CVL (n = 101); II, dogs with other diseases and without CVL (n = 97); III, dogs with American cutaneous leishmaniasis (n = 7), and, IV, dogs without CVL (n = 72) from areas where leishmaniasis was not endemic as control group. Results indicated that Linj31-qPCR was able to identify parasites belonging to subgenus L. (Leishmania) with no cross-amplification with other parasite subgenera. The Linj31-qPCR detected Leishmania parasites DNA in 98% of samples from Group I. In conclusion this methodology can be used as routine diagnostic tools to detect parasites from subgenus Leishmania.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Antonio Colombo
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Micro-organismos da Universidade Federal de Alfenas, Alfenas, MG, Brazil
| | - Vera Lucia Pereira-Chioccola
- Laboratorio de Biologia Molecular de Parasitas, Centro de Parasitologia e Micologia do Instituto Adolfo Lutz, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil.
| | - Cristina da Silva Meira
- Laboratorio de Biologia Molecular de Parasitas, Centro de Parasitologia e Micologia do Instituto Adolfo Lutz, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Gabriela Motoie
- Laboratorio de Biologia Molecular de Parasitas, Centro de Parasitologia e Micologia do Instituto Adolfo Lutz, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Ricardo Gava
- Laboratorio de Biologia Molecular de Parasitas, Centro de Parasitologia e Micologia do Instituto Adolfo Lutz, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Roberto M Hiramoto
- Nucleo de Parasitoses Sistemicas, Centro de Parasitologia e Micologia do Instituto Adolfo Lutz, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Marcos E de Almeida
- Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Public Health Service, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Alexandre J da Silva
- Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Public Health Service, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Andre Antonio Cutolo
- Setor de Controle de Zoonoses e Vetores, Prefeitura Municipal de Monte Mor, Monte Mor, SP, Brazil
| | - Ingrid Menz
- Ingrid Menz Micro Empresa, Campinas, SP, Brazil
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Leça Júnior NF, Guedes PEB, Santana LN, Almeida VDA, Carvalho FS, Albuquerque GR, Wenceslau AA, Munhoz AD, Silva FL. Epidemiology of canine leishmaniasis in southern Bahia, Brazil. Acta Trop 2015; 148:115-9. [PMID: 25917715 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2015.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2015] [Revised: 03/25/2015] [Accepted: 04/11/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Leishmaniosis is a zoonosis caused by protozoa of the genus Leishmania. American cutaneous leishmaniosis (ACL) is mainly caused by the species L. amazonensis and L. braziliensis, and American visceral leishmaniosis (AVL) is caused by L. infantum chagasi. In addition to their proven roles as reservoirs of AVL, dogs are also suspected by researchers to be reservoirs of ACL due to reports of this infection in domestic environments and of infected dogs in endemic areas. The aim of this study was to detect Leishmania sp. infection in dogs from Vila Operária, Buerarema, Bahia, using parasitological tests, indirect immunofluorescent assay (IFA) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Furthermore, this study also aimed to identify risk factors associated with illness in dogs in this locality by conducting an epidemiological survey. For this purpose, 292 dogs were clinically evaluated for the presence of skin lesions, and the dogs that showed these changes were submitted to scarification injury to enable preparation of slides for microscopic study of amastigotes. Subsequently, the dogs underwent blood sampling for serological (IFA) and molecular (PCR) tests. Additionally, the owners of the dogs answered an epidemiological questionnaire to facilitate the identification of risk factors for exposure of dogs to pathogens of ACL. Of the 292 dogs studied, 13 (4.5%) had lesions suggestive of ACL, but with a negative parasitological examination and 147 (50.3%) were seropositive according to the IFA. Of the 273 dogs studied using PCR test, 10 (3.66%) were positive for L. braziliensis, and all samples were negative for L. infantum chagasi. Wastelands in the peridomicile and the presence of light in the household were risk factors associated with ACL. The results show that Vila Operária has asymptomatic dogs with ACL and that the detection sensitivity of the IFA was higher than that of PCR for the infected dogs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Paula Elisa Brandão Guedes
- Doutoranda do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciência Animal da Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz-UESC, Ilhéus, BA, Brazil
| | | | - Valter dos Anjos Almeida
- Doutorando em Patologia Humana e Experimental no Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Moniz (FIOCRUZ-BA), Salvador, BA, Brazil
| | - Fábio Santos Carvalho
- Doutorando do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Genética e Biologia Molecular da Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz-UESC, Ilhéus, BA, Brazil
| | - George Rego Albuquerque
- Departamento de Ciências Agrárias e Ambientais, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz-UESC-Campus Soane Nazaré de Andrade, Hospital Veterinário, km 16 Rodovia Jorge Amado, CEP 45662-900 Ilhéus, BA, Brazil
| | - Amauri Arias Wenceslau
- Departamento de Ciências Agrárias e Ambientais, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz-UESC-Campus Soane Nazaré de Andrade, Hospital Veterinário, km 16 Rodovia Jorge Amado, CEP 45662-900 Ilhéus, BA, Brazil
| | - Alexandre Dias Munhoz
- Departamento de Ciências Agrárias e Ambientais, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz-UESC-Campus Soane Nazaré de Andrade, Hospital Veterinário, km 16 Rodovia Jorge Amado, CEP 45662-900 Ilhéus, BA, Brazil
| | - Fabiana Lessa Silva
- Departamento de Ciências Agrárias e Ambientais, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz-UESC-Campus Soane Nazaré de Andrade, Hospital Veterinário, km 16 Rodovia Jorge Amado, CEP 45662-900 Ilhéus, BA, Brazil.
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Castro-Júnior JG, Freire ML, Campos SPS, Scopel KKG, Porrozzi R, Da Silva ED, Colombo FA, da Silveira RDCV, Marques MJ, Coimbra ES. Evidence of Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum infection in dogs from Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais State, Brazil, based on immunochromatographic dual-path platform (DPP®) and PCR assays. Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo 2014; 56:225-9. [PMID: 24879001 PMCID: PMC4085865 DOI: 10.1590/s0036-46652014000300008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2013] [Accepted: 09/24/2013] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
In Brazil, domestic dogs are branded as the primary reservoir for zoonotic
visceral leishmaniasis, due to the clear positive correlation observed between human
and canine infection rates. This study aimed to carry out a serological survey of
canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) in dogs housed at a public kennel in the
municipality of Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais State, Brazil, using the
immunochromatographic TR DPP® CVL rapid test. Additionally, conventional
and/or real time PCR assay was used to detect and confirm L.
infantum infection in the DPP positive dogs only. Of the 400 dogs
studied, most did not present clinical signs for CVL (p < 0.05),
and fifteen (3.8%) were seropositive in the DPP test. There was no statistically
significant difference between the DPP seropositive dogs and the clinical signs of
the disease (p > 0.05). Both conventional and real time PCR tests
confirmed L. infantum infection in nine (75.0%) of the twelve DPP
seropositive dogs that remained alive during the follow-up period. This study is the
first seroepidemiologic survey of CVL held in the city of Juiz de Fora, and the
results reinforce the idea that this disease is currently in a process of expansion
and urbanization in Brazil. Furthermore, this study highlights the use of the DPP
test as an alternative for diagnosing CVL in large and mid-sized cities, due to its
ease of implementation.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Geraldo Castro-Júnior
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Saúde Brasileira, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Mariana Lourenço Freire
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Microbiologia e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Samantha Priscila Silva Campos
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Microbiologia e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Kezia K G Scopel
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Microbiologia e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Renato Porrozzi
- Laboratório de Pesquisa em Leishmaniose, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | | | - Fabio A Colombo
- Laboratório de Parasitologia, Departamento de Patologia e Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal de Alfenas, Alfenas, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Rita de Cássia Viveiros da Silveira
- Laboratório de Parasitologia, Departamento de Patologia e Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal de Alfenas, Alfenas, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Marcos José Marques
- Laboratório de Parasitologia, Departamento de Patologia e Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal de Alfenas, Alfenas, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Elaine Soares Coimbra
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Microbiologia e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil
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15
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Sensitivity of PCR and real-time PCR for the diagnosis of human visceral leishmaniasis using peripheral blood. ASIAN PACIFIC JOURNAL OF TROPICAL DISEASE 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/s2222-1808(13)60003-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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16
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Genetic heterogeneity in clinical isolates of Leishmania donovani from India. J Clin Microbiol 2011; 49:3687-90. [PMID: 21865422 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.00729-11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic diversity within 45 Indian Leishmania donovani isolates was analyzed using seven genetic markers. While kinetoplast DNA (kDNA) analysis revealed 15 genotypes, 8 genotypes were obtained by analysis of other markers. In contrast to earlier reports, our data suggest that significant genetic polymorphisms exist in L. donovani strains in Bihar, India. Our results confirm the presence of 2 zymodemes in India.
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17
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Colombo FA, Odorizzi RMFN, Laurenti MD, Galati EAB, Canavez F, Pereira-Chioccola VL. Detection of Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum RNA in fleas and ticks collected from naturally infected dogs. Parasitol Res 2011; 109:267-74. [DOI: 10.1007/s00436-010-2247-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2010] [Accepted: 12/24/2010] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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18
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da Silva RN, Amorim AC, Brandão RMSS, de Andrade HM, Yokoo M, Ribeiro ML, Bartchewsky W, Socorro-Silva A, de Castro JAF, do Monte SJH. Real-time PCR in clinical practice: a powerful tool for evaluating Leishmania chagasi loads in naturally infected dogs. ANNALS OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND PARASITOLOGY 2010; 104:137-43. [PMID: 20406580 DOI: 10.1179/136485910x12647085215453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
The performance of the less expensive SYBR-Green-based PCR assay, for quantifying Leishmania chagasi in smears of bone-marrow aspirates from naturally infected, mongrel dogs, was recently compared with that of a similar PCR based on TaqMan chemistry. Aspirates were obtained from 36 infected dogs and examined for parasites by direct examination, culture, and quantitative PCR (qPCR) using specific primers (based on the parasite's kinetoplast DNA), DNA extracted from a smear, and either the SYBR-Green or TaqMan chemistries. Every aspirate smear was found PCR-positive for L. chagasi (whether the assay employed SYBR Green or TaqMan) but only 74% of the aspirates were found positive by culture and only 33% by direct, microscopical examination. There was no evidence of PCR inhibition when the DNA was collected from smears, and the parasite loads estimated using the SYBR-Green PCR were almost identical to those estimated using the TaqMan PCR (r=0.99). As a method for quantifying parasite loads in dogs infected with L. chagasi (and, probably, other mammals infected with other leishmanial parasites), PCR based on SYBR Green may therefore be an appropriate and inexpensive alternative to PCR based on TaqMan, and a reliable clinical tool.
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Affiliation(s)
- R N da Silva
- Departamento de Parasitologia e Microbiologia, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Piauí, Teresina, PI, Brazil
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19
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Dantas-Torres F, de Paiva-Cavalcanti M, Figueredo LA, Melo MF, da Silva FJ, da Silva AL, Almeida EL, Brandão-Filho SP. Cutaneous and visceral leishmaniosis in dogs from a rural community in northeastern Brazil. Vet Parasitol 2010; 170:313-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2010.02.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2009] [Revised: 01/11/2010] [Accepted: 02/13/2010] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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20
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Jr DC, Konishi CT, Petri V, Martinez ICP, Shimizu L, Pereira-Chioccola VL. Atypical disseminated leishmaniasis similar to post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis in a Brazilian AIDS patient infected with Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum chagasi: a case report. Int J Infect Dis 2009; 13:e504-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2009.01.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2008] [Revised: 01/14/2009] [Accepted: 01/19/2009] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
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21
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Laurent T, Van der Auwera G, Hide M, Mertens P, Quispe-Tintaya W, Deborggraeve S, De Doncker S, Leclipteux T, Bañuls AL, Büscher P, Dujardin JC. Identification of Old World Leishmania spp. by specific polymerase chain reaction amplification of cysteine proteinase B genes and rapid dipstick detection. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis 2008; 63:173-81. [PMID: 19097841 DOI: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2008.10.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2008] [Revised: 10/20/2008] [Accepted: 10/27/2008] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
We used the cysteine proteinase B (cpb) gene family of the trypanosomatid genus Leishmania as a target to develop rapid, specific, and easy-to-use polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests to discriminate Leishmania infantum, Leishmania donovani, Leishmania tropica, Leishmania aethiopica, and Leishmania major. Identification of all 5 Old World species and validation of intraspecies variability are features lacking in other species-specific PCRs. Amplicon analysis was done on agarose gels and was further simplified by using an oligochromatography dipstick to detect L. infantum and L. donovani products. Because the analytical sensitivity is lower than that of certain other species- and genus-specific PCRs, our assays are especially valuable for use on cultured isolates or directly on cryostabilates. As such, they can be implemented by research and health centers having access to culturing, DNA isolation, and PCR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thierry Laurent
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium
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22
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Fakhar M, Motazedian MH, Hatam GR, Asgari Q, Kalantari M, Mohebali M. Asymptomatic human carriers of Leishmania infantum: possible reservoirs for Mediterranean visceral leishmaniasis in southern Iran. ANNALS OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND PARASITOLOGY 2008; 102:577-83. [PMID: 18817598 DOI: 10.1179/136485908x337526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Over the last decade, the incidence of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) has increased in many districts of the province of Fars, in southern Iran. Recent epidemiological reports indicate that asymptomatic human infections with Leishmania infantum (the causative agent of VL throughout the Mediterranean basin) occur more frequently in Iran than was previously believed. Between 2004 and 2006, blood samples were collected from 802 apparently healthy subjects from communities, in the north-west and south-east of Fars province, where VL cases had been recorded. Each of these samples was tested for anti-Leishmania antibodies, in direct agglutination tests (DAT), and for L. infantum kinetoplast DNA, in PCR-based assays. Of the 426 subjects from north-western Fars, eight (1.9%) were found seropositive and 68 (16.0%) PCR-positive. The corresponding values for the 376 subjects from south-eastern Fars were lower, with five (1.3%) seropositive and 32 (8.5%) PCR-positive. Of the 100 PCR-positive subjects, 18 (18.0%) each lived in a household in which there had been a case of VL, and six (6.0%) had had VL themselves (in each case, more than a year before the blood sampling for the present study). Although 21 of the PCR-positives have now been followed-up for at least 18 months, none has developed symptomatic VL. Since positivity in the PCR-based assay probably indicated the presence of L. infantum amastigotes in the peripheral blood of 12.5% of the subjects, it is clear that asymptomatic human carriers of L. infantum are quite common in the study areas and probably act as reservoirs in the transmission of the parasite, to humans and to dogs, by sandflies.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Fakhar
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine/Molecular and Cellular Biology Research Centre, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box 48175-1665, Sari, Iran.
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23
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Quantitative real-time PCR is not more sensitive than "conventional" PCR. J Clin Microbiol 2008; 46:1897-900. [PMID: 18400914 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.02258-07] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
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24
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An integrated pipeline for the development of novel panels of mapped microsatellite markers for Leishmania donovani complex, Leishmania braziliensis and Leishmania major. Parasitology 2008; 135:567-74. [PMID: 18371241 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182008004186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
A panel of microsatellites mapped to the Leishmania genome might make it possible to find associations between specific loci and phenotypic traits. To identify such loci, a Perl programme was written that scans the sequence of a genome and writes all loci containing microsatellites to a MySQL database. The programme was applied to the sequences of the L. braziliensis, L. infantum and L. major genomes. The database is publicly available over the internet: http://www.genomics.liv.ac.uk/tryps/resources.html 'Microsatellite Locus Extractor', and allows the selection of mapped microsatellites that meet user-defined criteria from a specified region of the selected genome. The website also incorporates a primer design pipeline that will design primers to amplify the selected loci. Using this pipeline 12 out of 17 primer sets designed against the L. infantum genome generated polymorphic PCR products. A tailed primer protocol was used to label all microsatellite primers with a single set of labelled primers. To avoid the culture of parasites prior to genotyping, sets of nested PCR primers were developed to amplify parasite DNA eluted from microscope slides. The limit of detection was approximately 1.6 parasite equivalents. However, only 6/56 DNA from slides stored at ambient temperature for over 6 months gave positive PCR results.
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25
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Schnedl J, Auer H, Fischer M, Tomaso H, Pustelnik T, Mooseder G. Kutane Leishmaniose – Import aus Belize. Wien Klin Wochenschr 2007; 119:102-5. [DOI: 10.1007/s00508-007-0871-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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26
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Lemesre JL, Holzmuller P, Gonçalves RB, Bourdoiseau G, Hugnet C, Cavaleyra M, Papierok G. Long-lasting protection against canine visceral leishmaniasis using the LiESAp-MDP vaccine in endemic areas of France: double-blind randomised efficacy field trial. Vaccine 2007; 25:4223-34. [PMID: 17395339 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2007.02.083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 121] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2006] [Revised: 02/22/2007] [Accepted: 02/28/2007] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Vaccination against visceral leishmaniasis has received limited attention compared with cutaneous leishmaniasis, although the need for an effective vaccine against visceral leishmaniasis is pressing. Dogs constitute the major reservoir of Leishmania infantum/chagasi responsible for human visceral leishmaniasis. We have recently demonstrated that the combination of naturally excreted/secreted antigens, easily purified from culture supernatant of Leishmania infantum promastigotes (LiESAp) as vaccine antigen in formulation with muramyl dipeptide (MDP) as adjuvant, conferred 100% protection to dogs experimentally infected with L. infantum by inducing in vaccinees a significant, stable and long-lasting Th1-type cell response [Lemesre JL, Holzmuller P, Cavaleyra M, Bras Gonçalves R, Hottin G, Papierok G. Protection against experimental visceral leishmaniasis infection in dogs immunised with purified excreted secreted antigens of L. infantum promastigotes. Vaccine 2005; 23:2825-2840; Holzmuller P, Cavaleyra M, Moreaux J, Kovacic R, Vincendeau P, Papierok G, Lemesre JL. Lymphocytes of dogs immunised with purified excreted secreted antigens of L. infantum co-incubated with Leishmania-infected macrophages produce IFN-gamma resulting in nitric oxide-mediated amastigote apoptosis. Vet. Immunol. Immunopathol. 2005, 106:247-257]. In this report, protection against visceral leishmaniasis is investigated in naturally exposed dogs of endemic areas of the South of France vaccinated with LiESAp/MDP vaccine. A double-blind randomised efficacy field trial was developed on a large-scale dog population composed of vaccinees (n=205) and placebo-treated animals (n=209), which were prospectively studied for a 2-year period. 0f the initial 414 enrolled dogs, 340 (175 controls and 165 vaccinees) were analysed for clinical, serological and parasitological studies at 24 months post-vaccination, after two sand fly seasons. Strong seroconversion disclosed by an L. infantum indirect immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT) associated with suspicious clinical symptoms, considered an indication that the animals had an established progressive infection, was only observed in the placebo group. The seropositive and/or symptomatic dogs were selected for further examination for possible Leishmania infection by culturing parasites from bone-marrow aspirate. The presence of leishmanial infection was also evaluated by means of the PCR analysis of bone marrow samples in all enrolled dogs prior to vaccination and in all evaluated animals (175 controls and 165 vaccinees) at 24 months post-vaccination. After two transmission cycles completed, the Leishmania infection rate was 0.61% (1/165) in vaccinated dogs and 6.86% (12/175) in the placebo group. The efficacy of the vaccine was calculated to be 92% (P=0.002). A clear difference between the dogs that received vaccine and those that received placebo was also established by the results of their immune status. Increased anti-LiESAp IgG2 reactivity and significant enhanced NO-mediated anti-leishmanial activity of canine macrophages in response to higher IFN-gamma production by T cells were almost exclusively revealed in vaccinees. The LiESAp-MDP vaccine induced a significant, long-lasting and strong protective effect against canine visceral leishmaniasis in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Loup Lemesre
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, UR 008 Pathogénie des Trypanosomatidae, Equipe 1, 911 avenue Agropolis, BP 64501, 34394 Montpellier cedex 5, France.
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27
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Gomes AHS, Ferreira IMR, Lima MLSR, Cunha EA, Garcia AS, Araújo MFL, Pereira-Chioccola VL. PCR identification of Leishmania in diagnosis and control of canine leishmaniasis. Vet Parasitol 2007; 144:234-41. [PMID: 17196339 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2006.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2006] [Revised: 10/07/2006] [Accepted: 10/11/2006] [Indexed: 09/30/2022]
Abstract
Leishmaniases are endemic in many countries, mainly in rural areas. In Brazil, Leishmania infection is responsible for many cases of Leishmaniases, including recent reports in urban regions. Despite their sensitivity, traditional serological and parasitological methods for detecting Leishmaniases have proven inadequate for species discrimination. This study aimed to identify Leishmania species in biological samples by a fast methodology, avoiding "in vitro" cultivation. Knowledge of the Leishmania species is an important tool in regions where both New World visceral leishmaniasis (VL) and cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) are prevalent. As these new foci appear in areas not traditionally endemic for VL, the main problem is to distinguish between true autochthonous infections and infections acquired in other well-known endemic areas. Since, domestic dogs are known to be the main VL and CL reservoir, they are regularly investigated in endemic areas to prevent, principally, severe and often fatal VL in humans. However, several infected dogs present no clinical signs or clinical signs similar to other canine diseases. Here, we evaluated the ability of PCR to diagnose VL and distinguish L. (L.) chagasi from other Leishmania species in domestic dogs. Samples from 114 dogs from 30 cities (Sao Paulo, Brazil) were divided into two groups: 44 symptomatic and 70 asymptomatic. They were assayed by parasitological methods (culture and microscopic examination) and PCR to determine L. (L.) chagasi, L. (V.) braziliensis; and in some cases, Leishmania spp. Parasitological tests and PCR-L. chagasi were concordant in 105 samples (92%). VL was confirmed in 49 dogs, while 56 had negative results. Of the 114 samples, 9 had discordant results, but were further tested by PCR-Leishmania spp. with positive results. VL was also confirmed in 4 dogs having negative parasitological tests and positive PCR-L. chagasi. Consequently, this PCR was positive for 100% (53/49) of dogs with parasites detected in parasitological tests. Also, PCR demonstrated high specificity detecting 61 dogs negative for VL. Leishmania infection was negative in 56 dogs, and 5 with positive culture and PCR-Leishmania spp. had CL since they were positive in PCR-L. braziliensis. This study shows the importance of including PCR in diagnosis of Leishmaniases by differential diagnosis contributing to the surveillance and control of VL programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aparecida H S Gomes
- Laboratorio de Parasitologia, Instituto Adolfo Lutz, Av. Dr Arnaldo, CEP 01246-902, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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Lemesre JL, Holzmuller P, Cavaleyra M, Gonçalves RB, Hottin G, Papierok G. Protection against experimental visceral leishmaniasis infection in dogs immunized with purified excreted secreted antigens of Leishmania infantum promastigotes. Vaccine 2005; 23:2825-40. [PMID: 15780731 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2004.11.061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2004] [Revised: 11/11/2004] [Accepted: 11/26/2004] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
The capacity of naturally excreted secreted antigens easily purified from culture supernatant of Leishmania infantum promastigotes (LiESAp), successfully cultivated in completely defined medium called CDM/LP [Lemesre JL. Methods for the culture in vitro of different stages of tissue parasites. International publication WO 94/26899, 1994; Merlen T, Sereno D, Brajon N, Rostand F, Lemesre JL. Leishmania spp: completely defined medium without serum and macromolecules (CDM/LP) for the continuous in vitro cultivation of infective promastigote forms. Am J Trop Med Hyg 1999;60(1):41-50] to protect dogs against experimental L. infantum infections is described. Eighteen healthy Beagle dogs were allocated into four groups that received at a 3-week interval either two subcutaneous injections of 50 microg (group 2, n = 3), 100 microg (group3, n = 6) and 200 microg (group 4, n = 3) LiESAp in formulation with muramyl dipeptide (MDP) or similar injections of placebo (group 1, n = 6). Dogs were intravenously infected with 10(8) metacyclic L. infantum promastigotes. Promastigotes of the MHOM/MA/67/ITMAP-263 and MHOM/FR/78/LEM75 strains were, respectively, administered 2 months (at day 84, homologous challenge 1) and 8 months post-immunization (at day 273, heterologous challenge 2). The data indicated that vaccine candidate confers total protection (100%) against challenges 1 and 2 in dogs from groups 3 and 4 and intermediate protection (66.7%) against challenge 1 in dogs from group 2 as determined by parasite detection in bone marrow aspirates during 14 months post-challenge follow-up. All placebo dogs of group 1 were found infected and failed to respond to LiESAp in cell-mediated assays before and after both challenges. Increased levels of total anti-leishmanial antibodies were exclusively detected in infected dogs from group 1. Vaccine-induced protection correlates with an early establishment of a long lasting predominantly Th1-type cellular immune response specifically directed against LiESAp before and after experimental infections, as demonstrated by: (i) anti-LiESAp IgG2 reactivity, and (ii) LiESAp-specific lymphocyte proliferation assays and enhanced NO-mediated anti-leishmanial activity of canine monocyte-derived macrophages (CM-DM) in response to higher IFNgamma production by T-cells, when L. infantum-infected CM-DM were co-cultured with autologous lymphocytes. Overall, our results support the view that a LiESAp vaccine might be useful in a promising vaccination approach against natural L. infantum infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Loup Lemesre
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, UR 008 Pathogénie des Trypanosomatidae, 911 Avenue Agropolis, BP 64501, 34394 Montpellier cedex 5, France.
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29
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Pratlong F, Debord T, Garnotel E, Garrabé E, Marty P, Raphenon G, Dedet JP. First identification of the causative agent of visceral leishmaniasis in Djibouti: Leishmania donovani. ANNALS OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND PARASITOLOGY 2005; 99:21-5. [PMID: 15701251 DOI: 10.1179/136485905x15553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
The first identification of the Leishmania species responsible for visceral leishmaniasis in Djibouti is described. Four strains, obtained from three autochthonous cases, were identified by starch-gel electrophoresis and iso-enzyme analysis of 15 enzymatic systems. The strains were found to belong to two newly recognized zymodemes of L. donovani: MON-268 and MON-287.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Pratlong
- Laboratoire de Parasitologie and Centre National de Référence des Leishmania, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Montpellier, 163 rue Auguste Broussonet, 34090 Montpellier, France
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30
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Schönian G, Nasereddin A, Dinse N, Schweynoch C, Schallig HDFH, Presber W, Jaffe CL. PCR diagnosis and characterization of Leishmania in local and imported clinical samples. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis 2003; 47:349-58. [PMID: 12967749 DOI: 10.1016/s0732-8893(03)00093-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 588] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Leishmaniasis diagnosis in regions where multiple species exist should identify each species directly in the clinical sample without parasite culturing. The sensitivity of two PCR approaches which amplify part of the ssu rRNA gene and the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS), respectively, was determined using human and dog blood seeded with Leishmania promastigotes. ssu-rDNA-PCR was more sensitive than ITS1-PCR, however species identification was not possible by the former approach. When a nested ITS1-PCR was used its sensitivity equaled the ssu-rDNA-PCR. Digestion of ITS1 amplicon with the restriction enzyme HaeIII distinguished all medically relevant Leishmania species. ITS1-PCR was used to diagnose 162 local and imported suspected cases of leishmaniasis in Israel, the Palestinian Authority and Germany. 113 cases (69.7%) were positive by PCR and species identification was possible in 110 samples. Leishmania DNA was also amplified and identified at the species level from archived non-stained and Giemsa stained microscope slides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriele Schönian
- Institute of Microbiology and Hygiene, Humboldt University, Charité, Berlin, Germany.
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31
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Kyriakou DS, Alexandrakis MG, Passam FH, Kourelis TV, Foundouli P, Matalliotakis E, Maniatis AN. Quick detection of Leishmania in peripheral blood by flow cytometry. Is prestorage leucodepletion necessary for leishmaniasis prevention in endemic areas? Transfus Med 2003; 13:59-62. [PMID: 12694549 DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-3148.2003.00420.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a serious health problem in various endemic areas. There are reports that the parasite can be transmitted via blood transfusions. We studied the clinical utility of flow cytometry for the screening of blood donors in an endemic area in Greece. Samples from 2000 blood donors from the area of Lasithi, Crete, Greece were examined by flow cytometry after labelling with a polyclonal anti-leishmania antibody conjugated with fluorescein-isothiocyanate derived from infected canines in the area. The same blood samples were simultaneously examined for serum anti-leishmania antibodies, May-Grünwald staining of peripheral blood smears and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in buffy coat to the minicircle of kinetoplastic DNA. Direct sequencing of the PCR-amplified area helped discriminate leishmania species. Flow cytometry detected 33 cases with parasites in the peripheral blood leucocytes (1.65%), which were confirmed by PCR. One PCR-positive case was negative by flow cytometry. After prestorage leucodepletion, no sample was positive by PCR. Anti-leishmania antibodies were positive in 304 (15%) cases. Flow cytometry was found to be a sensitive and rapid method of detecting leishmania in peripheral blood samples. Leucodepletion effectively reduces the detection of the parasite, thus minimizing the potential risk of leishmania transmission through blood transfusions in endemic areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- D S Kyriakou
- Haematology Department, University Hospital of Larisa, University of Thessalia, Larisa, Thessalia, Greece.
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Spanakos G, Patsoula E, Kremastinou T, Saroglou G, Vakalis N. Development of a PCR-based method for diagnosis of Leishmania in blood samples. Mol Cell Probes 2002; 16:415-20. [PMID: 12490142 DOI: 10.1006/mcpr.2002.0436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) cases reported in Mediterranean countries and in Northern Europe are becoming increasingly frequent. The past few years several studies have shown Polymerase Chain Reaction to be more effective than the classical methods for the diagnosis of VL in clinical samples. The purpose of this study was the development of a simple, specific and sensitive PCR-based assay for the detection of Leishmania in blood samples. A specific pair of oligonucleotides was designed using conserved sequences of the ssu-rRNA Leishmania infantum gene. Of the 53 blood samples of patients suspected for leishmaniasis that were processed with the newly designed oligonucleotides, 13 were successfully diagnosed positive. The results were confirmed with sequencing and restriction fragment length polymorphism. The lower detection limit of the reported assay was 10 parasites per ml in all seeded samples tested and considered highly satisfactory for diagnosis of Leishmaniasis in blood samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory Spanakos
- Department of Public and Administrative Health, National School of Public Health, 196 Alexandras Ave, Athens, Greece.
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Lachaud L, Marchergui-Hammami S, Chabbert E, Dereure J, Dedet JP, Bastien P. Comparison of six PCR methods using peripheral blood for detection of canine visceral leishmaniasis. J Clin Microbiol 2002; 40:210-5. [PMID: 11773118 PMCID: PMC120090 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.40.1.210-215.2002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 231] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2001] [Revised: 08/08/2001] [Accepted: 10/14/2001] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The objectives of this study were to compare the sensitivities and reliabilities of different PCR methods for the diagnosis and epidemiological study of canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) using dog blood. We chose to work with peripheral blood, as this type of sampling is noninvasive, straightforward, and easy to repeat. Six PCR methods were compared: three primer pairs target genomic DNA, and the other three target kinetoplast (mitochondrial) DNA. Sensitivity, specificity, reproducibility, and ease of interpretation without hybridization were evaluated for each method. The assessment was first performed using artificial samples. All methods could detect less than one parasite per reaction tube. However, the sensitivities varied among the different methods by a factor of 500 on purified cultivated parasites and by a factor of 10,000 on seeded dog blood samples (i.e., from 10 to 10(-3) parasite per ml of blood for the latter). Only four methods were found sufficiently reliable for the diagnosis of CVL. They were tested on 37 dogs living in an area of endemicity and grouped according to clinical status and specific serology. Only the two methods targeting kinetoplast DNA (K13A-K13B and RV1-RV2) could detect the parasite in 100% of symptomatic infected dogs. Similarly, all seropositive dogs were found PCR positive by these methods versus 62% by the genomic-DNA-based methods. Finally, these kinetoplast-based methods proved clearly superior to the others in the detection of Leishmania in asymptomatic dogs. Our data allow the discussion of the advantages and drawbacks of highly sensitive versus moderately sensitive PCR methods in diagnosis and prevalence studies of CVL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurence Lachaud
- Laboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie et Centre National de Référence sur les Leishmanioses, Faculté de Médecine, Montpellier, France
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Hu XS, Yang WT, Lu HG, Yan HP, Cheng JP, Ma Y, Jin BQ, Zhang T. Sequencing a specific kinetoplast DNA fragment of Leishmania donovani for polymerase chain reaction amplification in diagnosis of leishmaniasis in bone marrow and blood samples. J Parasitol 2000; 86:822-6. [PMID: 10958464 DOI: 10.1645/0022-3395(2000)086[0822:saskdf]2.0.co;2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
A set of oligonucleotide primers I and II was developed by analyzing the specificity of a cloned kinetoplast DNA (kDNA) fragment of Leishmania donovani and sequencing the fragment. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was conducted with the primers to amplify a minicircle kDNA fragment (297 bp) to detect L. donovani in the bone marrow (22 samples), whole blood (16 samples), and serum (17 samples) of 22 patients with visceral leishmaniasis. All of 22 patients were diagnosed by microscopic identification. Control samples of bone marrow, whole blood, and serum were obtained from patients with leukemia and from healthy volunteers. In addition, 12 dogs were infected with L. donovani promastigotes for the PCR test. The total number of patients positive by PCR testing was 95.5% (21/22), with 91.0% (20/22) from the bone marrow, 68.8% (11/16) from the blood, and 29.4% (5/17) from the sera. Similar results were obtained in infected dogs. No amplification products were seen in control samples from humans or dogs. Our results suggest that PCR may be useful in detecting kDNA in the bone marrow and blood of patients with visceral leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- X S Hu
- Laboratory of Parasitology, West China University of Medical Sciences, Chengdu, Sichuan, The People's Republic of China
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35
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Brenière SF, Telleria J, Bosseno MF, Buitrago R, Bastrenta B, Cuny G, Banuls AL, Brewster S, Barker DC. Polymerase chain reaction-based identification of New World Leishmania species complexes by specific kDNA probes. Acta Trop 1999; 73:283-93. [PMID: 10546846 DOI: 10.1016/s0001-706x(99)00025-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Here we define a new approach for the detection and characterisation of Leishmania complexes by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and specific hybridisation. The first step consists of PCR amplification of kDNA minicircles using general kinetoplastid primers, which generate a polymorphic multi-banding pattern for all Leishmania species and other Kinetoplastidae. The second step is the identification of the Leishmania species complexes by hybridisation of the PCR products with specific kDNA probes. Polymorphic PCR-products from a genetically diverse set of Leishmania species were analysed by electrophoresis and the banding patterns compared with multi-locus enzyme electrophoresis (MLEE) data. The banding patterns produced by Leishmania species were very heterogeneous, making kDNA-PCR useful for determining closely related strains and for fingerprinting individual strains. The degree of kDNA-PCR and MLEE polymorphism was compared using UPGMA dendrograms. Three complex-specific probes were generated from major PCR bands of reference stocks belonging to the Leishmania mexicana, Leishmania donovani and Leishmania braziliensis complexes, and hybridisation of these probes to membrane-bound PCR products could reliably identify the strain to a complex level. A combination of kDNA-PCR fingerprinting and hybridisation with kDNA probes was found to be useful for both sensitive detection and direct identification of Leishmania species complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- S F Brenière
- UMR CNRS/ORSTOM no. 9926: Génétique Moléculaire des Parasites et des Vecteurs, ORSTOM, Montpellier, France
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36
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le Fichoux Y, Quaranta JF, Aufeuvre JP, Lelievre A, Marty P, Suffia I, Rousseau D, Kubar J. Occurrence of Leishmania infantum parasitemia in asymptomatic blood donors living in an area of endemicity in southern France. J Clin Microbiol 1999; 37:1953-7. [PMID: 10325353 PMCID: PMC84994 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.37.6.1953-1957.1999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 240] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/1998] [Accepted: 03/16/1999] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Visceral leishmaniosis (VL) due to Leishmania infantum (L. chagasi) is a lethal disease if untreated, but asymptomatic L. infantum infections have been reported previously. A better understanding of parasite transmission, dissemination, and survival in the human host is needed. The purpose of this study was to assess whether L. infantum circulated in peripheral blood of subjects with no history of VL. Sera from 565 blood donors were screened by Western blotting to detect Leishmania-specific antibodies and identify individuals with probable past exposure to Leishmania. Seropositivity was found in 76 donors whose buffy coats were examined by PCR and direct culture. The parasite minicircle kinetoplast DNA was amplified from blood samples of nine donors. Promastigotes were detected by culture in blood samples from nine donors. Only two donors were PCR and culture positive. These results indicate that L. infantum circulates intermittently and at low density in the blood of healthy seropositive individuals, who thus appear to be asymptomatic carriers. Implications for the safety of blood transfusion are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y le Fichoux
- Groupe de Recherche en Immunopathologie de la Leishmaniose, Laboratoire de Parasitologie, Faculté de Médecine de Nice, Nice, France
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Harris E, Kropp G, Belli A, Rodriguez B, Agabian N. Single-step multiplex PCR assay for characterization of New World Leishmania complexes. J Clin Microbiol 1998; 36:1989-95. [PMID: 9650950 PMCID: PMC104966 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.36.7.1989-1995.1998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
We have developed a PCR assay for one-step differentiation of the three complexes of New World Leishmania (Leishmania braziliensis, Leishmania mexicana, and Leishmania donovani). This multiplex assay is targeted to the spliced leader RNA (mini-exon) gene repeats of these organisms and can detect all three complexes simultaneously, generating differently sized products for each complex. The assay is specific to the Leishmania genus and does not recognize related kinetoplastid protozoa, such as Trypanosoma cruzi, Trypanosoma brucei, and Crithidia fasciculata. It correctly identified Leishmania species with a broad geographic distribution in Central and South America. The sensitivity of the PCR amplification ranged from 1 fg to 10 pg of DNA (0.01 to 100 parasites), depending on the complex detected. Crude extracts of cultured parasites, prepared simply by boiling diluted cultures, served as excellent templates for amplification. Crude preparations of clinical material were also tested. The assay detected L. braziliensis in dermal scrapings from cutaneous leishmanial lesions, Leishmania chagasi in dermal scrapings of atypical cutaneous leishmaniasis, and L. mexicana from lesion aspirates from infected hamsters. We have minimized the material requirements and maximized the simplicity, rapidity, and informative content of this assay to render it suitable for use in laboratories in countries where leishmaniasis is endemic. This assay should be useful for rapid in-country identification of Leishmania parasites, particularly where different Leishmania complexes are found in the same geographical area.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Harris
- Program in Molecular Pathogenesis, University of California, San Francisco, 94143-0422, USA.
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Delgado J, Pineda JA, Macías J, Regordán C, Gallardo JA, Leal M, Sanchez-Quijano A, Lissen E. Low sensitivity of peripheral blood smear for diagnosis of subclinical visceral leishmaniasis in human immunodeficiency virus type 1-infected patients. J Clin Microbiol 1998; 36:315-6. [PMID: 9431978 PMCID: PMC124865 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.36.1.315-316.1998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The peripheral blood smear is an easy method for the diagnosis of symptomatic visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-infected patients. However, its efficiency in diagnosing subclinical VL remains unknown. In this study, Leishmania amastigotes were seen in blood smears from 1 of 13 HIV-1-positive individuals with subclinical VL. This shows that this procedure is not suitable for subclinical-VL diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Delgado
- Viral Hepatitis & AIDS Study Group, Virgen del Rocío University Hospital, Seville, Spain.
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Alvar J, Cañavate C, Gutiérrez-Solar B, Jiménez M, Laguna F, López-Vélez R, Molina R, Moreno J. Leishmania and human immunodeficiency virus coinfection: the first 10 years. Clin Microbiol Rev 1997; 10:298-319. [PMID: 9105756 PMCID: PMC172921 DOI: 10.1128/cmr.10.2.298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 488] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Over 850 Leishmania-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) coinfection cases have been recorded, the majority in Europe, where 7 to 17% of HIV-positive individuals with fever have amastigotes, suggesting that Leishmania-infected individuals without symptoms will express symptoms of leishmaniasis if they become immunosuppressed. However, there are indirect reasons and statistical data demonstrating that intravenous drug addiction plays a specific role in Leishmania infantum transmission: an anthroponotic cycle complementary to the zoonotic one has been suggested. Due to anergy in patients with coinfection, L. infantum dermotropic zymodemes are isolated from patient viscera and a higher L. infantum phenotypic variability is seen. Moreover, insect trypanosomatids that are currently considered nonpathogenic have been isolated from coinfected patients. HIV infection and Leishmania infection each induce important analogous immunological changes whose effects are multiplied if they occur concomitantly, such as a Th1-to-Th2 response switch; however, the consequences of the viral infection predominate. In fact, a large proportion of coinfected patients have no detectable anti-Leishmania antibodies. The microorganisms share target cells, and it has been demonstrated in vitro how L. infantum induces the expression of latent HIV-1. Bone marrow culture is the most useful diagnostic technique, but it is invasive. Blood smears and culture are good alternatives. PCR, xenodiagnosis, and circulating-antigen detection are available only in specialized laboratories. The relationship with low levels of CD4+ cells conditions the clinical presentation and evolution of disease. Most patients have visceral leishmaniasis, but asymptomatic, cutaneous, mucocutaneous, diffuse cutaneous, and post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis can be produced by L. infantum. The digestive and respiratory tracts are frequently parasitized. The course of coinfection is marked by a high relapse rate. There is a lack of randomized prospective treatment trials; therefore, coinfected patients are treated by conventional regimens. Prophylactic therapy is suggested to be helpful in preventing relapses.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Alvar
- Laboratorio de Referencia de Leishmaniasis, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
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