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A putative Leishmania panamensis/Leishmania braziliensis hybrid is a causative agent of human cutaneous leishmaniasis in Nicaragua

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 April 2009

A. A. Belli
Affiliation:
Department of Medical Parasitology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK
M. A. Miles
Affiliation:
Department of Medical Parasitology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK
J. M. Kelly
Affiliation:
Department of Medical Parasitology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK

Summary

As part of a survey of human leishmaniasis in Nicaragua we examined phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of 40 Leishmania isolates. We identified 3 distinct parasites associated with cutaneous disease in this area; Leishmania panamensis (40% of cases), Leishmania braziliensis (33%), and a strain which exhibits the heterozygous isoenzyme and DNA fingerprinting patterns expected of a L. panamensis/L. braziliensis hybrid (27%). There was complete correlation between the isoenzyme and DNA data for each of the putative hybrids examined. All of the ‘hybrids’ were obtained from foci in the northern region of the country where L. panamensis and L. braziliensis occur sympatrically. These observations provide strong evidence for sexual reproduction in New World Leishmania populations and suggest that it is of taxonomic and epidemiological significance.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1994

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