title: Application of PCR-RFLP for the exploration of the molecular diversity of Leishmania infantum in Algeria.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Génétique, Faculté des Sciences Biologiques, USTHB, Algiers, Algeria.
authors.forename: Nabila
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Seridi
authors.forename: Miloud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Belkaid
authors.forename: Wilber
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Quispe-Tintaya
authors.forename: Charef
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zidane
authors.forename: Jean Claude
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Dujardin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000462:Algeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics*; D004285:Dogs; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D018314:Leishmania infantum / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000662:veterinary; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan