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Nazar E, Yazdani Charati J, Pazoki H, Saki A, Fakhar M, Boroumand F, Rasooli SA. Modelling the number of dermal lesions in anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis and its associated factors in Herat province, western Afghanistan, during 2012-2013. Transbound Emerg Dis 2020; 67:2692-2701. [PMID: 32403184 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.13623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2019] [Revised: 05/04/2020] [Accepted: 05/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), caused by Leishmania tropica, is the main causative agent of CL in the Herat province, western Afghanistan. In CL patients, one of the most important indicators for reducing the amount of body damage and the choice of treatment is the number of dermal lesions, but there is no strong evidence in this regard. Therefore, using count regression models, the main objective of this historical cohort study was to identify the distribution of the number of dermal lesions and determine the associated factors among CL patients referring to leishmaniasis reference laboratory in Herat province, from January 2012 to December 2013. In a total of 4,127 clinically suspected CL cases, 50.20% were female and 49.80% male. Based on the results of ZINB model, which is the best model suggested by goodness-of-fit criteria, age variables (IRR = 1.007), duration of lesion (6-12 weeks compared to < 6 weeks with IRR = 1.36 and >12 weeks with IRR = 1.39 compared to <6 weeks), type of lesion(both nodule and ulcer compared to papule with IRR = 2.03), location of lesion (trunk with IRR = 1.90, upper with IRR = 1.66, lower with IRR = 1.61 and mix with IRR = 10.35 compared to head/neck/ears) and type of lesion (ulcer compared to papule with IRR = 0.50, nodule and lupoid, respectively, as IRR = 0.72 and IRR = 0.51 compared to papule) had a significant effect on the mean number of dermal lesions (p < .05). Also, our results showed that among four models used, the ZINB model represented a better performance to determine the associated probable factors about the number of dermal lesions in ACL patients. Moreover, there was a direct association between age and number of dermal lesions; in addition, duration of lesion, type of lesion and location of lesion had a significant effect on the number of dermal lesions. Therefore, a comprehensive planning is necessary for controlling and reducing the number of dermal lesions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eisa Nazar
- Student Research Committee, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.,Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Health, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Jamshid Yazdani Charati
- Department of Biostatistics, Health Sciences Research Center, Addiction Institute, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Hossein Pazoki
- Student Research Committee, Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Azadeh Saki
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Health, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.,Social Determinants of Health Research Centre, School of Health, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Mahdi Fakhar
- Department of Parasitology, School of Medicine, Toxoplasmosis Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Farzaneh Boroumand
- Student Research Committee, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.,Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Health, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Sayed Abobakar Rasooli
- National Health Coordinator (NHC) and Head of Herat WHO Sub-office, Herat Province, Afghanistan
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Ghatee MA, Taylor WR, Karamian M. The Geographical Distribution of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Causative Agents in Iran and Its Neighboring Countries, A Review. Front Public Health 2020; 8:11. [PMID: 32133334 PMCID: PMC7039857 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2020.00011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2019] [Accepted: 01/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmania tropica and Leishmania major are both the main cause of anthroponotic (ACL) and zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL), respectively, in the Old World. Leishmania infantum and Leishmania donovani, which are important causes of visceral leishmaniasis, have also occasionally been reported in CL patients. The present study investigates the current distribution of causative species of CL in Iran and neighboring countries in the Middle East. There has been expansion of L. tropica into new urban and rural foci in Iran, with well-documented cases of visceralization, a substantial increase of CL in Syria, and the emergence of new foci and outbreaks in Turkey and Iraq, especially due to L. major. Civil war in Syria and Iraq, population movement, poverty, and climatic change play important roles in the changing CL distribution in this region. Control programs should adopt a multidisciplinary approach based on active surveillance and case finding, especially in vulnerable refugee populations, determination of hazard maps for CL hot points using GIS and other advanced technology, the free distribution of drugs, rodent control, and greater community engagement in poor and marginalized populations. Comprehensive molecular studies that could show the species and strains of Leishmania in different areas of each country can give a better view from the distribution of CL in this region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Amin Ghatee
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, Iran.,Department of Parasitology, School of Medicine, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, Iran
| | - Walter R Taylor
- Clinical Therapeutics Unit, Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Bangkok, Thailand.,Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Mehdi Karamian
- Infectious Diseases Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
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Evaluation of MDR1 and MRPA genes expression in different types of dry cutaneous leishmaniasis. BMC Res Notes 2019; 12:803. [PMID: 31831065 PMCID: PMC6909633 DOI: 10.1186/s13104-019-4784-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2019] [Accepted: 11/04/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective The resistance to antimony-containing glucantime is a major obstacle to successful treatment, especially in endemic areas. Looking the molecular mechanisms involved in this drug resistance will help in choosing the best treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of multidrug-resistance 1 (MDR1) and multidrug-resistance protein A (MRPA) genes in acute, chronic non-lupoid, and chronic lupoid forms of dry type cutaneous leishmaniasis (DTCL). Results MDR1 gene was over-expressed as 14.4- and 1.56-folds in the chronic lupoid and acute forms compared with the chronic non-lupoid form, respectively. Results comparison showed P < 0.05 between the chronic non-lupoid and acute groups, P < 0.01 between acute and chronic lupoid groups, and P < 0.001 between the chronic non-lupoid and chronic lupoid groups. MRPA gene was over-expressed as 266 and 17.7-fold in the chronic lupoid and chronic non-lupoid forms compared with the acute form, respectively. Statistical analysis showed P < 0.01 between the chronic non-lupoid and chronic lupoid groups, P < 0.05 between acute and chronic non-lupoid groups, and P < 0.001 between the acute and chronic lupoid groups.
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Adegboye MA, Olumoh J, Saffary T, Elfaki F, Adegboye OA. Effects of time-lagged meteorological variables on attributable risk of leishmaniasis in central region of Afghanistan. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 685:533-541. [PMID: 31176974 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.05.401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2019] [Revised: 05/15/2019] [Accepted: 05/26/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Leishmaniasis remains one of the world's most neglected vector-borne diseases, affecting predominantly poor communities mainly in developing countries. Previous studies have shown that the distribution and dynamics of leishmaniasis infections are sensitive to environmental factors, however, there are no studies on the burden of leishmaniasis attributable to time-varying meteorological variables. METHODS This study used data from 3 major leishmaniosis afflicted provinces of Afghanistan, between 2003 and 2009, to provide empirical analysis of change in heat/cold-leishmaniosis association. Non-linear and delayed exposure-lag-response relationship between meteorological variables and leishmaniasis were fitted with a distributed lag non-linear model applying a spline function which describes the dependency along the range of values with a lag of up to 12 months. We estimated the risk of leishmaniasis attributable to high and low temperature. RESULTS The median monthly mean temperature and rainfall were 16.1 °C and 0.6 in., respectively. Seasonal variations of leishmaniasis were consistent between males and females, however significant differences were observed among different age groups. Temperature effects were immediate and persistent (lag 0-12 months). The cumulative risks were highest at cold temperatures. The cumulative relative risks (logRR) for leishmaniasis were 6.16 (95% CI: 5.74-6.58) and 1.15 (95% CI: 1.32-1.31) associated with the 10th percentile temperature (2.16 °C) and the 90th percentile temperature (28.46 °C). The subgroup analysis showed increased risk for males as well as young and middle aged people at cold temperatures, however, higher risk was observed for the elderly in heat. The overall leishmaniasis-temperature attributable fractions was estimated to be 7.6% (95% CI: 7.5%-7.7%) and mostly due to cold. CONCLUSION Findings in this study highlight the non-linearity, delay of effects and magnitude of leishmaniasis risk associated with temperature. The disparity of risk between different subgroups can hopefully advise policy makers and assist in leishmaniasis control program.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jamiu Olumoh
- Department of Mathematics, American University of Nigeria, 640001 Yola, Nigeria
| | | | - Faiz Elfaki
- Department of Mathematics, Statistics and Physics, Qatar University, 2713 Doha, Qatar
| | - Oyelola A Adegboye
- Department for Management of Science and Technology Development, Ton Duc Thang University, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam; Faculty of Mathematics and Statistics, Ton Duc Thang University, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam.
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Kwofie KD, Sato K, Sanjoba C, Hino A, Shimogawara R, Amoa-Bosompem M, Ayi I, Boakye DA, Anang AK, Chang KS, Ohashi M, Kim HS, Ohta N, Matsumoto Y, Iwanaga S. Oral activity of the antimalarial endoperoxide 6-(1,2,6,7-tetraoxaspiro[7.11]nonadec-4-yl)hexan-1-ol (N-251) against Leishmania donovani complex. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019; 13:e0007235. [PMID: 30908481 PMCID: PMC6433226 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2018] [Accepted: 02/12/2019] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a major problem worldwide and causes significant morbidity and mortality. Existing drugs against VL have limitations, including their invasive means of administration long duration of treatment regimens. There are also concerns regarding increasing treatment relapses as well as the identification of resistant clinical strains with the use of miltefosine, the sole oral drug for VL. There is, therefore, an urgent need for new alternative oral drugs for VL. In the present study, we show the leishmanicidal effect of a novel, oral antimalarial endoperoxide N-251. In our In vitro studies, N-251 selectively and specifically killed Leishmania donovani D10 amastigotes with no accompanying toxicity toward the host cells. In addition, N-251 exhibited comparable activities against promastigotes of L. donovani D10, as well as other L. donovani complex parasites, suggesting a wide spectrum of activity. Furthermore, even after a progressive infection was established in mice, N-251 significantly eliminated amastigotes when administered orally. Finally, N-251 suppressed granuloma formation in mice liver through parasite death. These findings indicate the therapeutic effect of N-251 as an oral drug, hence suggest N-251 to be a promising lead compound for the development of a new oral chemotherapy against VL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kofi Dadzie Kwofie
- Section of Environmental Parasitology, Graduate School of Medical Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical Dental University, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Department of Animal Resource Sciences, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kai Sato
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Department of Animal Resource Sciences, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Chizu Sanjoba
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Department of Animal Resource Sciences, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Akina Hino
- Section of Environmental Parasitology, Graduate School of Medical Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical Dental University, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Rieko Shimogawara
- Section of Environmental Parasitology, Graduate School of Medical Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical Dental University, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Michael Amoa-Bosompem
- Section of Environmental Parasitology, Graduate School of Medical Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical Dental University, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Irene Ayi
- Department of Parasitology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Daniel A. Boakye
- Department of Parasitology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Abraham K. Anang
- Department of Parasitology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Kyung-Soo Chang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Science, College of Health Sciences, Catholic University of Pusan, Busan, Republic of Korea
| | - Mitsuko Ohashi
- Section of Environmental Parasitology, Graduate School of Medical Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical Dental University, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hye-Sook Kim
- Division of International Infectious Disease Control, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan
| | - Nobuo Ohta
- Section of Environmental Parasitology, Graduate School of Medical Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical Dental University, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yoshitsugu Matsumoto
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Department of Animal Resource Sciences, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shiroh Iwanaga
- Section of Environmental Parasitology, Graduate School of Medical Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical Dental University, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
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Ghobakhloo N, Motazedian MH, Naderi S, Ebrahimi S. Isolation of Crithidia spp. from lesions of immunocompetent patients with suspected cutaneous leishmaniasis in Iran. Trop Med Int Health 2018; 24:116-126. [PMID: 29446852 DOI: 10.1111/tmi.13042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Leishmania major has been considered as the main aetiological agent of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Iran. However, there are recent reports about the existence of Crithidia spp in cutaneous lesions in southern Iran. Therefore, this study was designed to decipher some morphological, biological and molecular aspects of this phenomenon. METHODS Clinical isolates were obtained from 167 patients with cutaneous ulcers. A set of specific primers based on GAPDH (Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenase) gene were used to distinguish between Crithidia and Leishmania genera. For molecular analysis, Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis and Mi-Seq Illumina platform were applied. Then, morphological analysis and some biological features (including potential growth at 37 °C and the ability of infecting mammalian macrophages) were studied. RESULTS In 92.8% of clinical cases, L. major was the only causative microorganism isolated; in 5.4% of cases, co-infection of L. major and Crithidia spp. was identified; and in 1.8% of lesions, only Crithidia spp. were found. CONCLUSION We isolated Crithidia spp. from clinical samples of patients suspected of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Iran, indicating that Crithidia spp. are capable of surviving at human body temperature and infecting macrophage cells. This raises questions on the influence of this phenomenon on pathogenicity, therapeutic outcome and disease control strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nafiseh Ghobakhloo
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Mohammad Hossein Motazedian
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.,Basic Science in Infectious Diseases, Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Shahrbanoo Naderi
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Sepideh Ebrahimi
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
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Mohebali M, Kazemirad E, Hajjaran H, Kazemirad E, Oshaghi MA, Raoofian R, Teimouri A. Gene expression analysis of antimony resistance in Leishmania tropica using quantitative real-time PCR focused on genes involved in trypanothione metabolism and drug transport. Arch Dermatol Res 2018; 311:9-17. [PMID: 30390113 DOI: 10.1007/s00403-018-1872-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2018] [Revised: 10/04/2018] [Accepted: 10/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Pentavalent antimonials remain the treatment of choice for all the clinical forms of leishmaniasis. The increasing rates of antimony resistance are becoming a serious health problem in treatment of anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL). Accordingly, unraveling molecular markers is crucial for improving medication strategies and monitoring of drug-resistant parasites. Different studies have suggested the importance of genes involved in trypanothione metabolism and drug transport. In this regard, present study was designed to investigate the RNA expression level of five genes including γ-GCS, ODC, TRYR (involved in trypanothione metabolism), AQP1 (acts in drug uptake) and MRPA (involved in sequestration of drug) in sensitive and resistant Leishmania tropica isolates. Seven antimony-resistant and seven antimony-sensitive L. tropica clinical isolates were collected from ACL patients. Drug sensitivity test was performed on the samples as well as reference strains; afterwards, gene expression analysis was performed on clinical isolates by quantitative real-time PCR. The results revealed that the average expression level of AQP1 gene was decreased (0.47-fold) in resistant isolates compared to sensitive ones whereas MRPA (2.45), γ-GCS (2.1) and TRYR (1.97) was upregulated in resistant isolates. The average expression of ODC (1.24-fold) gene was not different significantly between sensitive and resistant isolates. Our findings suggest that AQP1, MRPA, GSH1 and TRYR can be considered as potential molecular markers for screening of antimony resistance in some L. tropica clinical isolates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehdi Mohebali
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Elham Kazemirad
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. .,Department of Parasitology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Homa Hajjaran
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Elaheh Kazemirad
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Ali Oshaghi
- Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Reza Raoofian
- Legal Medicine Research Center, Legal Medicine Organization, Tehran, Iran
| | - Aref Teimouri
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Fakhar M, Karamian M, Ghatee MA, Taylor WR, Pazoki Ghohe H, Rasooli SA. Distribution pattern of anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania tropica in Western Afghanistan during 2013-2014. Acta Trop 2017; 176:22-28. [PMID: 28754249 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2017.07.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2016] [Revised: 07/24/2017] [Accepted: 07/24/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL), caused by Leishmania tropica, is the main cause of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in the Herat province, Western Afghanistan. We investigated the role of environmental factors on ACL distribution in Herat. Epidemiological data from 2457 patients were retrieved from the local WHO sub-office. Shapefile layers of districts, cities, villages, land cover, soil type and digital elevation model (DEM) of the Herat province were used to assess, by logistic regression modelling, the effects of land cover, soil types, elevation, and proximity to the Harirud river on the distribution of ACL. The key determinants of distribution were: (i) close proximity to the Harirud river, (ii) elevation between 700 and 1200m, (iii) intensive and intermittent irrigated cultivated land, and (iv) Haplocalcids with Torriorthents and Torrifluvents soil types. No ACL cases were found below 700m, and a few cases were present at >1200m in irrigated areas around the Harirud river. These findings suggest that moist soil and the humidity from irrigated areas found between 700 and 1200m provide suitable breeding sites of Phlebotomus sergenti, the main sandfly vector of L. tropica in Afghanistan. The effect of elevation also explains the predominance of ACL over ZCL in this region. The present study showed that distribution of ACL is strongly associated with environmental factors in West Afghanistan where the political and socio-economic conditions may also affect the epidemiology of CL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahdi Fakhar
- Molecular and Cell Biology Research Center, Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Mehdi Karamian
- Infectious Diseases Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
| | - Mohammad Amin Ghatee
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, Iran; Parasitology Department, School of Medicine, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, Iran.
| | - Walter Robert Taylor
- Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Bangkok, Thailand; Oxford Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, University of Oxford, UK
| | - Hossein Pazoki Ghohe
- Student Research Committee, Molecular and Cell Biology Research Center, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Sayed Abobakar Rasooli
- National Health Coordinator (NHC) and Head of Herat WHO Sub-office, Herat Province, Afghanistan
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Khan NH, Llewellyn MS, Schönian G, Sutherland CJ. Variability of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Lesions Is Not Associated with Genetic Diversity of Leishmania tropica in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province of Pakistan. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2017; 97:1489-1497. [PMID: 29016290 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.16-0887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Leishmania tropica is the causative agent of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Pakistan. Here, intraspecific diversity of L. tropica from northern Pakistan was investigated using multilocus microsatellite typing. Fourteen polymorphic microsatellite markers were typed in 34 recently collected L. tropica isolates from Pakistan along with 158 archival strains of diverse Afro-Eurasian origins. Previously published profiles for 145 strains of L. tropica originating from different regions of Africa, Central Asia, Iran, and Middle East were included for comparison. Six consistently well-supported genetic groups were resolved: 1) Asia, 2) Morroco A, 3) Namibia and Kenya A, 4) Kenya B/Tunisia and Galilee, 5) Morocco B, and 6) Middle East. Strains from northern Pakistan were assigned to Asian cluster except for three that were placed in a geographically distant genetic group; Morocco A. Lesion variability among these Pakistani strains was not associated with specific L. tropica genetic profile. Pakistani strains showed little genetic differentiation from strains of Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria (FST = 0.00-0.06); displayed evidence of modest genetic flow with India (FST = 0.14). Furthermore, genetic structuring within these isolates was not geographically defined. Pak-Afghan cluster was in significant linkage disequilibrium (IA = 1.43), had low genetic diversity, and displayed comparatively higher heterozygosity (FIS = -0.62). Patterns of genetic diversity observed suggest dominance of a minimally diverse clonal lineage within northern Pakistan. This is surprising as a wide clinical spectrum was observed in patients, suggesting the importance of host and other factors. Further genotyping studies of L. tropica isolates displaying different clinical phenotypes are required to validate this potentially important observation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nazma Habib Khan
- Department of Zoology, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.,Department of Immunology & Infection, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Martin S Llewellyn
- Department of Pathogen Molecular Biology, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Gabriele Schönian
- Institute of Microbiology and Hygiene, Chariteì-University Medicine Berlin, Hindenburgdamm, Berlin, Germany
| | - Colin J Sutherland
- Department of Immunology & Infection, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
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Abstract
Leishmania tropica, a unicellular eukaryotic parasite present in North and East Africa, the Middle East, and the Indian subcontinent, has been linked to large outbreaks of cutaneous leishmaniasis in displaced populations in Iraq, Jordan, and Syria. Here, we report the genome sequence of this pathogen and 7,863 identified protein-coding genes, and we show that the majority of clinical isolates possess high levels of allelic diversity, genetic admixture, heterozygosity, and extensive aneuploidy. By utilizing paired genome-wide high-throughput DNA sequencing (DNA-seq) with RNA-seq, we found that gene dosage, at the level of individual genes or chromosomal "somy" (a general term covering disomy, trisomy, tetrasomy, etc.), accounted for greater than 85% of total gene expression variation in genes with a 2-fold or greater change in expression. High gene copy number variation (CNV) among membrane-bound transporters, a class of proteins previously implicated in drug resistance, was found for the most highly differentially expressed genes. Our results suggest that gene dosage is an adaptive trait that confers phenotypic plasticity among natural Leishmania populations by rapid down- or upregulation of transporter proteins to limit the effects of environmental stresses, such as drug selection.IMPORTANCELeishmania is a genus of unicellular eukaryotic parasites that is responsible for a spectrum of human diseases that range from cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis (MCL) to life-threatening visceral leishmaniasis (VL). Developmental and strain-specific gene expression is largely thought to be due to mRNA message stability or posttranscriptional regulatory networks for this species, whose genome is organized into polycistronic gene clusters in the absence of promoter-mediated regulation of transcription initiation of nuclear genes. Genetic hybridization has been demonstrated to yield dramatic structural genomic variation, but whether such changes in gene dosage impact gene expression has not been formally investigated. Here we show that the predominant mechanism determining transcript abundance differences (>85%) in Leishmania tropica is that of gene dosage at the level of individual genes or chromosomal somy.
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Botero A, Keatley S, Peacock C, Thompson RCA. In vitro drug susceptibility of two strains of the wildlife trypanosome, Trypanosoma copemani: A comparison with Trypanosoma cruzi. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-DRUGS AND DRUG RESISTANCE 2016; 7:34-41. [PMID: 28040568 PMCID: PMC5219620 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2016.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2016] [Revised: 12/18/2016] [Accepted: 12/20/2016] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Trypanosomes are blood protozoan parasites that are capable of producing illness in the vertebrate host. Within Australia, several native Trypanosoma species have been described infecting wildlife. However, only Trypanosoma copemani has been associated with pathological lesions in wildlife hosts and more recently has been associated with the drastic decline of the critically endangered woylie (Bettongia penicillata). The impact that some trypanosomes have on the health of the vertebrate host has led to the development of numerous drug compounds that could inhibit the growth or kill the parasite. This study investigated and compared the in vitro susceptibility of two strains of T. copemani (G1 and G2) and one strain of Trypanosoma cruzi (10R26) against drugs that are known to show trypanocidal activity (benznidazole, posaconazole, miltefosine and melarsoprol) and against four lead compounds, two fenarimols and two pyridine derivatives (EPL-BS1937, EPL-BS2391, EPL-BS0967, and EPL-BS1246), that have been developed primarily against T.cruzi. The in vitro cytotoxicity of all drugs against L6 rat myoblast cells was also assessed. Results showed that both strains of T. copemani were more susceptible to all drugs and lead compounds than T. cruzi, with all IC50 values in the low and sub-μM range for both species. Melarsoprol and miltefosine exhibited the highest drug activity against both T. copemani and T. cruzi, but they also showed the highest toxicity in L6 cells. Interestingly, both fenarimol and pyridine derivative compounds were more active against T. copemani and T. cruzi than the reference drugs benznidazole and posaconazole. T. copemani strains exhibited differences in susceptibility to all drugs demonstrating once again considerable differences in their biological behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Botero
- School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, South Street, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia.
| | - Sarah Keatley
- School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, South Street, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia
| | - Christopher Peacock
- The Marshall Center, School of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia; Telethon Kids Institute, 100 Roberts Road, Subiaco, WA 6008, Australia
| | - R C Andrew Thompson
- School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, South Street, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia
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Fakhar M, Pazoki Ghohe H, Rasooli SA, Karamian M, Mohib AS, Ziaei Hezarjaribi H, Pagheh AS, Ghatee MA. Genetic diversity of Leishmania tropica strains isolated from clinical forms of cutaneous leishmaniasis in rural districts of Herat province, Western Afghanistan, based on ITS1-rDNA. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2016; 41:120-127. [DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2016.03.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2016] [Revised: 03/13/2016] [Accepted: 03/29/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Okwor I, Uzonna JE. Pathways leading to interleukin-12 production and protective immunity in cutaneous leishmaniasis. Cell Immunol 2016; 309:32-36. [PMID: 27394077 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellimm.2016.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2016] [Revised: 06/27/2016] [Accepted: 06/28/2016] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Leishmaniasis affects millions of people worldwide and continues to pose public health problem. There is extensive evidence supporting the critical role for IL-12 in initiating and maintaining protective immune response to Leishmania infection. Although gene deletion studies show that CD40-CD40L interaction is an important pathway for IL-12 production by antigen-presenting cells and subsequent development of protective immunity in cutaneous leishmaniasis, several studies have uncovered other pathways that could also lead to IL-12 production and immunity in the absence of intact CD40-CD40L signaling. Here, we review the literature on the role of IL-12 in the induction and maintenance of protective T cell-mediated immunity in cutaneous leishmaniasis and the different pathways leading to IL-12 production by antigen-presenting cells following Leishmania major infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ifeoma Okwor
- Department of Immunology, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg R3E 0T5, Canada.
| | - Jude E Uzonna
- Department of Immunology, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg R3E 0T5, Canada
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14
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[Epidemiology and prevention of leishmaniasis in northern Afghanistan]. DER HAUTARZT 2016; 66:347-54. [PMID: 25821066 DOI: 10.1007/s00105-015-3602-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Leishmaniasis is estimated to cause the ninth largest disease burden among infectious diseases worldwide and it is not preventable by vaccination or chemoprophylaxis, but only by personal protective measures preventing bites of infectious arthropod vectors. OBJECTIVES Which leishmania species are endemic in northern Afghanistan, what are the clinical characteristics of skin lesions produced by cutanizing leishmania species, what are their epidemiological characteristics, and which preventive measures are feasible? METHODS The medical literature was reviewed, knowledge gaps were analyzed and completed by our own data collected locally. RESULTS Four Leishmania species are considered endemic in northern Afghanistan, of which Leishmania tropica, L. major, and L. donovani can produce skin lesions while L. donovani and L. infantum visceralize. Transmission modes and seasons vary markedly among focally epidemic urban anthroponotic L. tropica and rural enzootic L. major. Combined preventive measures may reduce the infection rate by more than 10,000-fold. CONCLUSION Cutaneous as well as visceral leishmaniasis can occur among returnees from Afghanistan. Atypical, poorly healing skin lesions can be caused by L. donovani. Extensive use of personal protective measures against arthropod vectors is strongly recommended for all travelers.
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15
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[Cutaneous leishmaniasis. Diagnosis and therapy in northern Afghanistan]. DER HAUTARZT 2014; 65:125-9. [PMID: 24337239 DOI: 10.1007/s00105-013-2725-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The German S1 guidelines from 2009 contain a variety of recommendations for the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis. PATIENTS AND METHODS We report the results of our diagnostic procedures and treatment of 32 international patients in autumn 2010 in northern Afghanistan. RESULTS Giemsa stain confirmed the clinical diagnosis within 24 hours. Eleven simple lesions and one larger ulcer responded well to cryotherapy and intralesional sodium stibogluconate. More complex lesions in 19 patients responded well to oral miltefosine. One patient refused outpatient therapy. CONCLUSIONS Cryotherapy and intralesional antimony compounds showed good results in early lesions of cutaneous leishmaniasis in northern Afghanistan. Outpatient treatment of complex lesions with miltefosine was successful in all cases.
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Jebran AF, Schleicher U, Steiner R, Wentker P, Mahfuz F, Stahl HC, Amin FM, Bogdan C, Stahl KW. Rapid healing of cutaneous leishmaniasis by high-frequency electrocauterization and hydrogel wound care with or without DAC N-055: a randomized controlled phase IIa trial in Kabul. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2014; 8:e2694. [PMID: 24551257 PMCID: PMC3923720 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2013] [Accepted: 12/29/2013] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) due to Leishmania (L.) tropica infection is a chronic, frequently disfiguring skin disease with limited therapeutic options. In endemic countries healing of ulcerative lesions is often delayed by bacterial and/or fungal infections. Here, we studied a novel therapeutic concept to prevent superinfections, accelerate wound closure, and improve the cosmetic outcome of ACL. Methodology/Principal Findings From 2004 to 2008 we performed a two-armed, randomized, double-blinded, phase IIa trial in Kabul, Afghanistan, with patients suffering from L. tropica CL. The skin lesions were treated with bipolar high-frequency electrocauterization (EC) followed by daily moist-wound-treatment (MWT) with polyacrylate hydrogel with (group I) or without (group II) pharmaceutical sodium chlorite (DAC N-055). Patients below age 5, with facial lesions, pregnancy, or serious comorbidities were excluded. The primary, photodocumented outcome was the time needed for complete lesion epithelialization. Biopsies for parasitological and (immuno)histopathological analyses were taken prior to EC (1st), after wound closure (2nd) and after 6 months (3rd). The mean duration for complete wound closure was short and indifferent in group I (59 patients, 43.1 d) and II (54 patients, 42 d; p = 0.83). In patients with Leishmania-positive 2nd biopsies DAC N-055 caused a more rapid wound epithelialization (37.2 d vs. 58.3 d; p = 0.08). Superinfections occurred in both groups at the same rate (8.8%). Except for one patient, reulcerations (10.2% in group I, 18.5% in group II; p = 0.158) were confined to cases with persistent high parasite loads after healing. In vitro, DAC N-055 showed a leishmanicidal effect on pro- and amastigotes. Conclusions/Significance Compared to previous results with intralesional antimony injections, the EC plus MWT protocol led to more rapid wound closure. The tentatively lower rate of relapses and the acceleration of wound closure in a subgroup of patients with parasite persistence warrant future studies on the activity of DAC N-055. Trial Registration ClinicalTrails.gov NCT00947362 In many countries of the Middle East such as Afghanistan, cutaneous leishmaniasis is a highly prevalent, chronic and stigmatizing skin disease. Poor hygiene conditions frequently aggravate the lesions due to bacterial and fungal superinfections. Classical treatments with injections of pentavalent antimony are hampered by costs, side effects, resistance development, supply and manufactural quality problems. In the present study on Afghan patients with Leishmania tropica-induced skin lesions we evaluated the clinical effect of an initial removal of lesion tissue by electrocoagulation using a bipolar high-frequency electrosurgery instrument, followed by daily moist wound treatment with or without a preparation of pharmaceutical sodium chlorite (DAC N-055). DAC N-055 is a compound with anti-infective, immunomodulatory and tissue repair-promoting effects. Our analysis revealed that the carefully performed moist wound treatment led to a rapid healing of the wounds within an average period of 6 weeks, even in the absence of the sodium chlorite preparation. This is considerably faster than the time spans previously reported for local or systemic antimony treatment. We believe that the current standard for local care of chronic wounds should also be applied to Leishmania skin lesions. If combined with an initial single high-frequency electrocoagulation, it is a highly effective, inexpensive and well-tolerated treatment option for cutaneous leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Fawad Jebran
- Mikrobiologisches Institut – Klinische Mikrobiologie, Immunologie und Hygiene, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Ulrike Schleicher
- Mikrobiologisches Institut – Klinische Mikrobiologie, Immunologie und Hygiene, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Reto Steiner
- Leishmania Clinic, German Medical Service (NGO), Darwaze-e-Lahory, Kabul, Afghanistan
| | - Pia Wentker
- Mikrobiologisches Institut – Klinische Mikrobiologie, Immunologie und Hygiene, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Farouq Mahfuz
- Leishmania Clinic, German Medical Service (NGO), Darwaze-e-Lahory, Kabul, Afghanistan
| | - Hans-Christian Stahl
- Waisenmedizin e.V. Promoting Access to Care with Essential Medicine, Non-Profit Organization, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Faquir Mohammad Amin
- Leishmania Clinic, German Medical Service (NGO), Darwaze-e-Lahory, Kabul, Afghanistan
| | - Christian Bogdan
- Mikrobiologisches Institut – Klinische Mikrobiologie, Immunologie und Hygiene, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
- * E-mail: (CB); (KWS)
| | - Kurt-Wilhelm Stahl
- Waisenmedizin e.V. Promoting Access to Care with Essential Medicine, Non-Profit Organization, Freiburg, Germany
- * E-mail: (CB); (KWS)
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