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Gritti T, Carra E, Van der Auwera G, Solana JC, Gaspari V, Trincone S, Ortalli M, Rabitti A, Reggiani A, Rugna G, Varani S. Molecular Typing of Leishmania spp. Causing Tegumentary Leishmaniasis in Northeastern Italy, 2014-2020. Pathogens 2023; 13:19. [PMID: 38251327 PMCID: PMC10820635 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens13010019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2023] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Tegumentary leishmaniasis (TL) is endemic but neglected in southern Europe. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the Leishmania strains causing TL cases in northeastern Italy, where an upsurge of TL cases has been observed in the last decade. Sections from 109 formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded (FFPE) biopsies of skin and mucosal tissues were collected from TL cases in the selected area. Two DNA targets were amplified and sequenced: the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) and the heat-shock protein 70 gene (hsp70). An in silico analysis was also performed on 149 genomes belonging to the Leishmania donovani complex. A total of 88 out of 109 (80.7%) samples from 83 TL cases were successfully typed by ITS1 and/or hsp70. ITS1 analysis identified L. infantum in 67 cases (91.8%), while L. major (n = 4, 5.5%) and L. tropica (n = 2, 2.7%) were detected in the remaining cases that were categorized as imported. Further, the hsp70 typing of 75 autochthonous cases showed the presence of eight distinct sequence variants belonging to the Leishmania donovani complex, with high genetic variability when compared to known L. infantum populations. In conclusion, our findings show that peculiar L. infantum variants are emerging in the novel focus on TL in northeastern Italy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tommaso Gritti
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy; (T.G.); (M.O.); (S.V.)
| | - Elena Carra
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna, 25124 Brescia, Italy; (E.C.); (A.R.)
| | | | - José Carlos Solana
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28022 Madrid, Spain
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Leishmaniasis, National Center for Microbiology, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28022 Majadahonda, Spain
| | - Valeria Gaspari
- Unit of Dermatology, Head and Neck Department, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Silvana Trincone
- Unit of Dermatology, Ospedale Bufalini, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale della Romagna, 47521 Cesena, Italy;
| | - Margherita Ortalli
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy; (T.G.); (M.O.); (S.V.)
- Unit of Microbiology, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Alice Rabitti
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna, 25124 Brescia, Italy; (E.C.); (A.R.)
| | - Alessandro Reggiani
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna, 25124 Brescia, Italy; (E.C.); (A.R.)
| | - Gianluca Rugna
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna, 25124 Brescia, Italy; (E.C.); (A.R.)
| | - Stefania Varani
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy; (T.G.); (M.O.); (S.V.)
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Medenica S, Miladinović-Tasić N, Stojanović NM, Lakićević N, Rakočević B. Climate Variables Related to the Incidence of Human Leishmaniosis in Montenegro in Southeastern Europe during Seven Decades (1945-2014). INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:1656. [PMID: 36767024 PMCID: PMC9914530 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20031656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Leishmaniosis (or leishmaniasis) is a neglected parasitosis most commonly transmitted by the sandfly bite. Changes in temperature, precipitation, and humidity can greatly affect the vectors and reservoir hosts. This study aimed to determine the association between temperature, air humidity, and weather conditions with the incidence of leishmaniasis in Montenegro during a seven-decade period (1945-2014) and to statistically compare and correlate the obtained data. In the studied period, there were 165 registered cases of leishmaniosis, 96.4%, in the coastal and central region of Montenegro, with an average incidence rate of 0.45/100.000. The visceral form of leishmaniosis predominated (99% of the cases), with only one case of cutaneous disease. Climate factors (average temperature, air humidity, and precipitation) had an impact on the occurrence of leishmaniosis in Montenegro. Air temperature elevated by 1 °C in all regions of Montenegro was significantly correlated with an increased incidence of leishmaniosis, by 0.150 (0.013 to 0.287; p < 0.05). In order to improve prevention and control of this disease, it is also necessary to investigate other factors with a possible impact on the number of cases of this neglected parasitosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanja Medenica
- Public Health Institute Podgorica, 81110 Podgorica, Montenegro
| | - Nataša Miladinović-Tasić
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Niš, 18000 Niš, Serbia
- Center of Microbiology, Public Health Institute Niš, 18000 Niš, Serbia
| | - Nikola M. Stojanović
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Niš, 18000 Niš, Serbia
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Davies-Bolorunduro O, Osuolale O, Saibu S, Adeleye I, Aminah N. Bioprospecting marine actinomycetes for antileishmanial drugs: current perspectives and future prospects. Heliyon 2021; 7:e07710. [PMID: 34409179 PMCID: PMC8361068 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e07710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Revised: 07/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Revived analysis interests in natural products in the hope of discovering new and novel antileishmanial drug leads have been driven partially by the increasing incidence of drug resistance. However, the search for novel chemotherapeutics to combat drug resistance had previously concentrated on the terrestrial environment. As a result, the marine environment was often overlooked. For example, actinomycetes are an immensely important group of bacteria for antibiotic production, producing two-thirds of the known antibiotics. However, these bacteria have been isolated primarily from terrestrial sources. Consequently, there have been revived efforts to discover new compounds from uncharted or uncommon environments like the marine ecosystem. Isolation, purification and structure elucidation of target compounds from complex metabolic extract are major challenges in natural products chemistry. As a result, marine-derived natural products from actinomycetes that have antileishmanial bioactivity potentials have been understudied. This review highlights metagenomic and bioassay approaches which could help streamline the drug discovery process thereby greatly reducing time and cost of dereplication to identify suitable antileishmanial drug candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- O.F. Davies-Bolorunduro
- Microbiology Department, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Lagos, Nigeria
- Postdoc Fellow Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universitas Airlangga, Komplek Kampus C, Jl. Mulyorejo, Surabaya, 60115, Indonesia
| | - O. Osuolale
- Applied Environmental Metagenomics and Infectious Diseases Research Group (AEMIDR), Department of Biological Sciences, Elizade University, Ilara Mokin, Nigeria
| | - S. Saibu
- Department of Microbiology, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos, Nigeria
| | - I.A. Adeleye
- Department of Microbiology, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos, Nigeria
| | - N.S. Aminah
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universitas Airlangga, Komplek Kampus C UNAIR, Jl. Mulyorejo, Surabaya, 60115, Indonesia
- Biotechnology of Tropical Medicinal Plants Research Group, Universitas Airlangga, Indonesia
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Abbate JM, Maia C, Pereira A, Arfuso F, Gaglio G, Rizzo M, Caracappa G, Marino G, Pollmeier M, Giannetto S, Brianti E. Identification of trypanosomatids and blood feeding preferences of phlebotomine sand fly species common in Sicily, Southern Italy. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0229536. [PMID: 32155171 PMCID: PMC7064173 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0229536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2019] [Accepted: 02/07/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
In this study, the presence of Leishmania DNA and blood feeding sources in phlebotomine sand fly species commonly present in Sicily were investigated. A total of 1,866 female sand flies including 176 blood fed specimens were sampled over two seasons in five selected sites in Sicily (southern Italy). Sergentomyia minuta (n = 1,264) and Phlebotomus perniciousus (n = 594) were the most abundant species at all the sites, while three other species from the genus Phlebotomus (i.e., P. sergenti n = 4, P. perfiliewi n = 3 and P. neglectus n = 1) were only sporadically captured. Twenty-eight out of the 1,866 (1.5%) sand flies tested positive for Leishmania spp. Leishmania tarentolae DNA was identified in 26 specimens of S. minuta, while the DNA of Leishmania donovani complex was detected in a single specimen each of S. minuta and P. perniciosus. Interestingly, seven S. minuta specimens (0.4%) tested positive for reptilian Trypanosoma sp. Blood sources were successfully identified in 108 out of 176 blood fed females. Twenty-seven out of 82 blood sources identified in fed females of P. perniciosus were represented by blood of wild rabbit, S. minuta mainly fed on humans (16/25), while the sole P. sergenti fed specimen took a blood meal on rat. Other vertebrate hosts including horse, goat, pig, dog, chicken, cow, cat and donkey were recognized as blood sources for P. perniciosus and S. minuta, and, surprisingly, no reptilian blood was identified in blood-fed S. minuta specimens. Results of this study agree with the well-known role of P. perniciosus as vector of L. infantum in the western Mediterranean; also, vector feeding preferences herein described support the hypothesis on the involvement of lagomorphs as sylvatic reservoirs of Leishmania. The detection of L. donovani complex in S. minuta, together with the anthropophilic feeding-behaviour herein observed, warrants further research to clarify the capacity of this species in the transmission of pathogens to humans and other animals.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Carla Maia
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine (GHTM), Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (IHMT), New University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - André Pereira
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine (GHTM), Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (IHMT), New University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Francesca Arfuso
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Gabriella Gaglio
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Maria Rizzo
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Giulia Caracappa
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Gabriele Marino
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | | | | | - Emanuele Brianti
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
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Montalvo AM, Fraga J, Blanco O, González D, Monzote L, Soong L, Capó V. Imported leishmaniasis cases in Cuba (2006-2016): what have we learned. Trop Dis Travel Med Vaccines 2018; 4:7. [PMID: 30094054 PMCID: PMC6081946 DOI: 10.1186/s40794-018-0067-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2017] [Accepted: 07/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Leishmaniasis is a neglected parasitic disease caused by Leishmania spp., which is not endemic in Cuba. However, several factors (such as human activities, climate changes, and tourism) have led to an increase in the number of leishmaniasis cases in all regions, raising diagnosis and surveillance issues. We aim to present the retrospective analysis of 16 human cases suspicious of leishmaniasis, which were received during 2006-2016 for diagnosis at the Department of Parasitology from the Institute of Tropical Medicine Pedro Kourí, Cuba. METHODS Clinical samples were collected and analyzed via different diagnostic assays, including direct smear, cultivation, histological analysis, and molecular analysis. Epidemiology and background of infection, clinical features, sex and age from each patient was recorded. RESULTS From the 16 suspicious cases, 5 cases were confirmed for Leishmania infection, based on at least two positive results using different methods: PCR-based diagnosis [18S rRNA (5/5), hsp20 gene (4/5), hsp70 gene (3/5)], histopathology evaluation (2/3), parasite cultivation (2/3), or direct smears (2/3). L. braziliensis and L. mexicana were identified as the involving species in two cases, according to hsp70 PCR-RFLP protocols. Demographic and clinical features, as well as treatment and follow up, are described for every case. CONCLUSIONS The combination of parasitological and molecular methods allowed proper diagnosis of imported leishmaniasis cases in Cuba. The utility and advantages of molecular diagnosis assays in non-endemic countries like Cuba are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana M. Montalvo
- Institute of Tropical Medicine “Pedro Kourí”, Autopista Novia del Mediodía Km 6 y ½, Lisa, La Habana, Cuba
| | - Jorge Fraga
- Institute of Tropical Medicine “Pedro Kourí”, Autopista Novia del Mediodía Km 6 y ½, Lisa, La Habana, Cuba
| | - Orestes Blanco
- Institute of Tropical Medicine “Pedro Kourí”, Autopista Novia del Mediodía Km 6 y ½, Lisa, La Habana, Cuba
| | - Daniel González
- Institute of Tropical Medicine “Pedro Kourí”, Autopista Novia del Mediodía Km 6 y ½, Lisa, La Habana, Cuba
| | - Lianet Monzote
- Institute of Tropical Medicine “Pedro Kourí”, Autopista Novia del Mediodía Km 6 y ½, Lisa, La Habana, Cuba
| | - Lynn Soong
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), Galveston, TX USA
| | - Virginia Capó
- Institute of Tropical Medicine “Pedro Kourí”, Autopista Novia del Mediodía Km 6 y ½, Lisa, La Habana, Cuba
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Karakuş M, Nasereddin A, Onay H, Karaca E, Özkeklikçi A, Jaffe CL, Kuhls K, Özbilgin A, Ertabaklar H, Demir S, Özbel Y, Töz S. Epidemiological analysis of Leishmania tropica strains and giemsa-stained smears from Syrian and Turkish leishmaniasis patients using multilocus microsatellite typing (MLMT). PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2017; 11:e0005538. [PMID: 28403153 PMCID: PMC5402985 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2016] [Revised: 04/24/2017] [Accepted: 03/30/2017] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Turkey is located in an important geographical location, in terms of the epidemiology of vector-borne diseases, linking Asia and Europe. Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is one of the endemic diseases in a Turkey and according to the Ministry Health of Turkey, 45% of CL patients originate from Şanlıurfa province located in southeastern Turkey. Herein, the epidemiological status of CL, caused by L. tropica, in Turkey was examined using multilocus microsatellite typing (MLMT) of strains obtained from Turkish and Syrian patients. A total of 38 cryopreserved strains and 20 Giemsa-stained smears were included in the present study. MLMT was performed using 12 highly specific microsatellite markers. Delta K (ΔK) calculation and Bayesian statistics were used to determine the population structure. Three main populations (POP A, B and C) were identified and further examination revealed the presence of three subpopulations for POP B and C. Combined analysis was performed using the data of previously typed L. tropica strains and Mediterranean and Şanlıurfa populations were identified. This finding suggests that the epidemiological status of L. tropica is more complicated than expected when compared to previous studies. A new population, comprised of Syrian L. tropica samples, was reported for the first time in Turkey, and the data presented here will provide new epidemiological information for further studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehmet Karakuş
- Ege University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Parasitology, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Abed Nasereddin
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, IMRIC, Hebrew University - Hadassah Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
- The Core Research Facility, The Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Hüseyin Onay
- Ege University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Genetics, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Emin Karaca
- Ege University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Genetics, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Ahmet Özkeklikçi
- Dr. Ersin Arslan State Hospital, Microbiology Department, Gaziantep, Turkey
| | - Charles L. Jaffe
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, IMRIC, Hebrew University - Hadassah Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Katrin Kuhls
- Technical University of Applied Sciences Wildau, Division of Molecular Biotechnology and Functional Genetics, Wildau, Germany
| | - Ahmet Özbilgin
- Celal Bayar University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Parasitology, Manisa, Turkey
| | - Hatice Ertabaklar
- Adnan Menderes University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Parasitology, Aydın, Turkey
| | - Samiye Demir
- Ege University, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Yusuf Özbel
- Ege University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Parasitology, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Seray Töz
- Ege University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Parasitology, Izmir, Turkey
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