title: Polymorphisms of cytochrome b gene in Leishmania parasites and their relation to types of cutaneous leishmaniasis lesions in Pakistan.
abstract: The exact species and/or strains of Leishmania parasites involved strongly influence the clinical and epidemiological features of leishmaniasis, and current knowledge of those influences and relationships is inadequate. We report that cytochrome b (cyt b) gene sequencing identified causal Leishmania parasites of 69 cutaneous leishmaniasis cases in Pakistan over a 3-year period. Of 21 cases in highland areas (Quetta city, Balochistan province), 16 (76.2%) were identified as Leishmania (L.) tropica and five (23.8%) as Leishmania (L.) major. Of 48 cases from lowland areas, cities/villages in Indus valley in Sindh and Balochistan provinces, 47 (97.9%) were identified as L. (L.) major and one (2.1%) as L. (L.) tropica. Statistical analysis (Fisher's exact test) revealed a significant difference (P < 0.0001) in the distribution of the two species by altitude; L. (L.) major is predominant in lowland and L. (L.) tropica at highland areas. The present result enriched our earlier finding, based on the first year's cultured parasite data, that only L. (L.) tropica was found in highland areas and only L. (L.) major in lowland areas. Among Leishmania samples analyzed, three types of cyt b polymorphism of L. (L.) major were found, including 45 (86.5%) cases of type I, six (11.5%) of type II and one (2%) of type III. We report for the first time on the presence of polymorphisms in L. (L.) major (types I, II and III) based on species identification using cyt b gene sequencing from clinical samples. Moreover, we found no correlation between clinical presentation (wet-, dry- and/or mixed-types of cutaneous lesions) and causal Leishmania parasites.
authors.affiliation: Division of Dermatology, Department of Organ-oriented Medicine, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan. chomarkm@gmail.com
authors.forename: Chomar Kaung
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Myint
authors.forename: Yutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Asato
authors.forename: Yu-ichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Hirotomo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: Abdul M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Bhutto
authors.forename: Farooq R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Soomro
authors.forename: Muhamad Z
authors.initials: MZ
authors.lastname: Memon
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.forename: Jorge D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Marco
authors.forename: Minoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oshiro
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Katakura
authors.forename: Yoshihisa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hashiguchi
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Uezato
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D045303:Cytochromes b / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D018320:Leishmania major / Q000235:genetics*; D007895:Leishmania tropica / Q000235:genetics*; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010154:Pakistan; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D045303:Cytochromes b