title: Phylogenetic relationships of Leishmania species based on trypanosomatid barcode (SSU rDNA) and gGAPDH genes: Taxonomic revision of Leishmania (L.) infantum chagasi in South America.
abstract: Phylogenetic studies on trypanosomatid barcode using V7V8 SSU rRNA and gGAPDH gene sequences have provided support for redefining some trypanosomatid species and positioning new isolates. The genus Leishmania is a slow evolving monophyletic group and including important human pathogens. The phylogenetic relationships of this genus have been determined by the natural history of its vertebrate hosts, vector specificity, clinical manifestations, geographical distribution and molecular approaches using different markers. Thus, in an attempt to better understand the phylogenetic relationships of Leishmania species, we performed phylogenetic analysis on trypanosomatid barcode using V7V8 SSU rRNA and gGAPDH gene sequences among a large number of Leishmania species and also several Brazilian visceral Leishmania infantum chagasi isolates obtained from dogs and humans. Our phylogenetic analysis strongly suggested that Leishmania hertigi and Leishmania equatoriensis should be taxonomically revised so as to include them in the genus Endotrypanum; and supported ancient divergence of Leishmania enriettii. This, together with recent data in the literature, throws light on the discussion about the evolutionary southern supercontinent hypothesis for the origin of Leishmania ssp. and validates L. infantum chagasi from Brazil, thus clearly differentiating it from L. infantum, for the first time.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de São Paulo, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: amarcili@usp.br.
authors.forename: Arlei
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marcili
authors.affiliation: Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas, Universidade Federal do ABC, Santo André, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcia Ap
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Sperança
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Andrea P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: da Costa
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Pesquisa Clínica Evandro Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria de F
authors.initials: Mde F
authors.lastname: Madeira
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Herbert S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Soares
authors.affiliation: Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas, Universidade Federal do ABC, Santo André, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Camila de O C C
authors.initials: Cde O
authors.lastname: Sanches
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Igor da C L
authors.initials: Ida C
authors.lastname: Acosta
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Aline
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Girotto
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Antonio H H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Minervino
authors.affiliation: Colegiado de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Vale do São Franscisco, Petrolina, PE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maurício C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Horta
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jeffrey J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Solange M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Gennari
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D058893:DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic / Q000379:methods*; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics*; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000235:genetics; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000469:parasitology*; D004285:Dogs; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D017125:Genes, Protozoan; D006801:Humans; D007891:Leishmania / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics*; D007896:Leishmaniasis / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000662:veterinary*; D010802:Phylogeny; D013020:South America
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal
keywords: Leishmania infantum chagasi; Leishmania spp.; Phylogeny; South America; Taxonomy