title: Leishmania species identification using FTA card sampling directly from patients' cutaneous lesions in the state of Lara, Venezuela.
abstract: A molecular epidemiological study was performed using FTA card materials directly sampled from lesions of patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in the state of Lara, Venezuela, where causative agents have been identified as Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis and L. (Leishmania) venezuelensis in previous studies. Of the 17 patients diagnosed with CL, Leishmania spp. were successfully identified in 16 patients based on analysis of the cytochrome b gene and rRNA internal transcribed spacer sequences. Consistent with previous findings, seven of the patients were infected with L. (V.) braziliensis. However, parasites from the other nine patients were genetically identified as L. (L.) mexicana, which differed from results of previous enzymatic and antigenic analyses. These results strongly suggest that L. (L.) venezuelensis is a variant of L. (L.) mexicana and that the classification of L. (L.) venezuelensis should be reconsidered.
authors: Laboratory of Parasitology, Department of Disease Control, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan. hkato@vetmed.hokudai.ac.jp
authors: Hirotomo
authors: H
authors: Kato
authors: Junko
authors: J
authors: Watanabe
authors: Iraida
authors: I
authors: Mendoza Nieto
authors: Masataka
authors: M
authors: Korenaga
authors: Yoshihisa
authors: Y
authors: Hashiguchi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D020459:Genes, rRNA / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007892:Leishmania braziliensis / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007894:Leishmania mexicana / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013045:Species Specificity; D014687:Venezuela / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult