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Genomic diversity in the Leishmania donovani complex

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 September 1999

I. L. MAURICIO ,
M. K. HOWARD ,
J. R. STOTHARD  and
M. A. MILES
I. L. MAURICIO
Affiliation:
Pathogen Molecular Biology and Biochemistry Unit, Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK
M. K. HOWARD
Affiliation:
Pathogen Molecular Biology and Biochemistry Unit, Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK Present address: Cantab Pharmaceutical Research Ltd, 184 Cambridge Science Park, Milton Rd, Cambridge CB4 4GN.
J. R. STOTHARD
Affiliation:
Pathogen Molecular Biology and Biochemistry Unit, Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK Present address: Biomedical Parasitology, Department of Zoology, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, UK.
M. A. MILES
Affiliation:
Pathogen Molecular Biology and Biochemistry Unit, Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK
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Abstract

The Leishmania donovani complex is considered to be composed of 3 species; L. donovani, L. infantum and L. chagasi, although this classification has been challenged. Genotypic relationships within the complex were evaluated at different levels by: binding of the probe Lmet9, specific for L. chagasi and Old World Leishmania spp.; partial sequencing of a constitutive major surface protease single gene (mspC) and random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD). The Old World Leishmania spp. and the L. donovani complex have a monophyletic origin. Leishmania chagasi clearly belongs to the L. donovani complex but it is indistinguishable from L. infantum, which suggests introduction of L. chagasi into the New World in recent history. Leishmania infantum/L. chagasi was identified as a monophyletic group within the L. donovani complex but L. donovani may be paraphyletic. Diversity within L. donovani is substantial and phylogeographical patterns of association were found.

Keywords

Leishmania donovani complexLeishmania infantumLeishmania chagasivisceral leishmaniasisRAPD analysis
Type
Research Article
Information
Parasitology , Volume 119 , Issue 3 , September 1999 , pp. 237 - 246
Copyright
1999 Cambridge University Press

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