Application of PCR-RFLP for the exploration of the molecular diversity of Leishmania infantum in Algeria

• Published in: Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 2008-06, Vol.102 (6), p.556-563
• Main Authors: Seridi, Nabila, Belkaid, Miloud, Quispe-Tintaya, Wilber, Zidane, Charef, Dujardin, Jean Claude
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Algeria; Algeria - epidemiology; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Child, Preschool; DNA, Protozoan - genetics; Dogs; Human protozoal diseases; Humans; Infant; Infectious diseases; Leishmania infantum; Leishmania infantum - classification; Leishmania infantum - genetics; Leishmaniasis; Leishmaniasis, Visceral - diagnosis; Leishmaniasis, Visceral - genetics; Leishmaniasis, Visceral - veterinary; Leshmaniasis; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Parasitic diseases; PCR; Phenotype; Polymerase Chain Reaction - methods; Polymorphism; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length - genetics; Protozoal diseases; RFLP
• ISSN: 0035-9203; 1878-3503
• DOI: 10.1016/j.trstmh.2008.03.004

In recent years, new methods have been developed for the molecular typing of Leishmania that need to be extensively validated by studies of clinical isolates in a well defined epidemiological context. The present study is a contribution to this effort. Using PCR-RFLP of gp63 and cpb genes, we analysed 59 isolates of L. (L.) infantum obtained from different regions of Algeria and originating from different clinical forms, hosts and zymodemes. PCR-RFLP identified 15 different genotypes among the four zymodemes analysed, thereby demonstrating a higher discriminatory power than multilocus enzyme electrophoresis. We did not see any significant relationships between PCR-RFLP patterns and host origin. However, cpb polymorphism showed two interesting trends: a possible relationship with the cutaneous origin of the isolates and an association with a West-East cline. We verified the proof of evidence of the direct applicability of gp63 and cpb PCR-RFLP in blood samples from dogs. Further work is needed to compare the sensitivity of pattern detection with cpb and gp63 PCR-RFLP but our results pave the way to future multilocus PCR-RFLP studies of L. (L.) infantum populations.