RESUMEN

We report the first case of natural infection of a domestic female cat (Felis catus) by Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis in French Guiana. The infected animal had a cutaneous ulcer on the nose and nodules of different sizes in the ears. The diagnosis was confirmed by molecular analysis of cutaneous samples that detected the presence of Leishmania parasites and allowed identifying the Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis species. The discovery of a cat infected by L. (V.) braziliensis suggests the possibility that cats could be potential secondary reservoirs of Leishmania parasites in French Guiana. Thus, it would be important to investigate the possible epidemiological role of domestic cats in domestic foci of Leishmania in this region.

Asunto(s)

Enfermedades de los Gatos/parasitología , Leishmania braziliensis , Leishmaniasis Cutánea/veterinaria , Animales , Enfermedades de los Gatos/epidemiología , Enfermedades de los Gatos/patología , Gatos , Femenino , Guyana Francesa/epidemiología , Leishmania braziliensis/genética , Leishmaniasis Cutánea/epidemiología , Leishmaniasis Cutánea/patología , Filogenia

RESUMEN

We used 12 microsatellite markers developed for Leishmania braziliensis to genotype 28 strains of the main species of the Leishmania guyanensis complex (i.e. L. guyanensis and L. panamensis) collected in Ecuador and Peru. The important heterozygote deficits observed in these populations are similar with the previous data obtained in L. braziliensis and raise again the debate on the reproductive mode of these protozoan parasites. The data showed genetic polymorphism and geographical differentiation giving information on population structure of the L. guyanensis complex. Regarding the two species, this study enhances again the debate on the taxonomic status of the different isolates belonging to L. guyanensis s.l. since the results showed substantial heterogeneity within this species complex. In conclusion, this study increases the number of available microsatellite loci for L. guyanensis species complex and raises fundamental biological questions. It confirms that microsatellite markers constitute good tools for population genetic studies on parasites of this complex.

Asunto(s)

Genética de Población , Leishmania guyanensis/clasificación , Leishmania guyanensis/genética , Repeticiones de Microsatélite/genética , Animales , ADN Protozoario/análisis , ADN Protozoario/aislamiento & purificación , Ecuador , Variación Genética , Genotipo , Humanos , Leishmania braziliensis/genética , Leishmania guyanensis/fisiología , Leishmaniasis Mucocutánea/parasitología , Perú , Reacción en Cadena de la Polimerasa , Polimorfismo Genético

RESUMEN

Twelve microsatellite loci of Leishmania braziliensis were examined, nine of which were developed in this work. Fifty-six Leishmania braziliensis were genotyped with these microsatellite loci. The 12 loci studied were polymorphic with the number of alleles ranging from five to 19, with a mean of 9.7 ± 4.1 and the observed heterozygosity averaging 0.425 ± 0.202. The important heterozygote deficits we observed (F(IS)  = 0.41, P value = 0.004) appear incompatible with the heterozygote excess expected in clonal diploids. This last result could revive the clonality/sexuality debate regarding Leishmania. This work validates the potential use of these microsatellites for population genetics analysis.