title: Multilocus sequence typing approach for a broader range of species of Leishmania genus: describing parasite diversity in Argentina.
abstract: Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne protozoan infection affecting over 350 million people around the world. In Argentina cutaneous leishmaniasis is endemic in nine provinces and visceral leishmaniasis is spreading from autochthonous transmission foci in seven provinces. However, there is limited information about the diversity of the parasite in this country. Implementation of molecular strategies for parasite typing, particularly multilocus sequence typing (MLST), represents an improved approach for genetic variability and population dynamics analyses. We selected six loci as candidates implemented in reference strains and Argentinean isolates. Phylogenetic analysis showed high correlation with taxonomic classification of the parasite. Autochthonous Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis showed higher genetic diversity than L. (Leishmania) infantum but low support was obtained for intra-L. braziliensis complex variants suggesting the need of new loci that contribute to phylogenetic resolution for an improved MLST or nested-MLST scheme. This study represents the first characterization of genetic variability of Leishmania spp. in Argentina.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Patología Experimental, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Nacional de Salta/Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Av. Bolivia 5150, A4402FDO Salta, Argentina; Instituto de Investigaciones en Enfermedades Tropicales, Sede Regional Orán, Universidad Nacional de Salta, Alvarado 751, A4530ANQ San Ramón De La Nueva Orán, Salta, Argentina. Electronic address: diegomarcoar@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Jorge D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Marco
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Patología Experimental, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Nacional de Salta/Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Av. Bolivia 5150, A4402FDO Salta, Argentina; Instituto de Investigaciones en Enfermedades Tropicales, Sede Regional Orán, Universidad Nacional de Salta, Alvarado 751, A4530ANQ San Ramón De La Nueva Orán, Salta, Argentina. Electronic address: paobarar@yahoo.com.ar.
authors.forename: Paola A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Barroso
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Okocho Kohasu, Nankoku, Kochi Prefecture 783-8505, Japan. Electronic address: fm.locatelli@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Fabricio M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Locatelli
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigaciones en Enfermedades Tropicales, Sede Regional Orán, Universidad Nacional de Salta, Alvarado 751, A4530ANQ San Ramón De La Nueva Orán, Salta, Argentina. Electronic address: spcajal@yahoo.com.ar.
authors.forename: S Pamela
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Cajal
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigaciones en Enfermedades Tropicales, Sede Regional Orán, Universidad Nacional de Salta, Alvarado 751, A4530ANQ San Ramón De La Nueva Orán, Salta, Argentina. Electronic address: carloslhoyos@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Carlos L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Hoyos
authors.affiliation: Veterinaria del Oeste, Av. Lavalle 2574, N3300ONN Posadas, Misiones, Argentina. Electronic address: cecilianevot@yahoo.com.ar.
authors.forename: M Cecilia
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Nevot
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Patología Experimental, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Nacional de Salta/Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Av. Bolivia 5150, A4402FDO Salta, Argentina. Electronic address: juanjoselauthier@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Juan J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Lauthier
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Patología Experimental, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Nacional de Salta/Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Av. Bolivia 5150, A4402FDO Salta, Argentina. Electronic address: biol.nicolas.tomasini@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Nicolás
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tomasini
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigaciones en Enfermedades Tropicales, Sede Regional Orán, Universidad Nacional de Salta, Alvarado 751, A4530ANQ San Ramón De La Nueva Orán, Salta, Argentina. Electronic address: marjualu@yahoo.com.ar.
authors.forename: Marisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Juarez
authors.affiliation: Veterinaria del Oeste, Av. Lavalle 2574, N3300ONN Posadas, Misiones, Argentina. Electronic address: octavioes2003@yahoo.com.ar.
authors.forename: J Octavio
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Estévez
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Okocho Kohasu, Nankoku, Kochi Prefecture 783-8505, Japan. Electronic address: korenaga@kochi-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Masataka
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Korenaga
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigaciones en Enfermedades Tropicales, Sede Regional Orán, Universidad Nacional de Salta, Alvarado 751, A4530ANQ San Ramón De La Nueva Orán, Salta, Argentina. Electronic address: jrnasser@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Julio R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Nasser
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Okocho Kohasu, Nankoku, Kochi Prefecture 783-8505, Japan; Centro de Biomedicina, Universidad Central del Ecuador y Proyecto Prometeo, SNESCYT, Sodiro N14-121 e Iquique, Quito, Ecuador. Electronic address: yhashiguchi42@yahoo.co.jp.
authors.forename: Yoshihisa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hashiguchi
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica, Universidad de Buenos Aires/Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Paraguay 2155, piso 13, C1121ABG Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina. Electronic address: pruybal@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ruybal
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001118:Argentina / Q000453:epidemiology; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D004285:Dogs; D006239:Haplotypes; D006801:Humans; D007891:Leishmania / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics*; D007896:Leishmaniasis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000662:veterinary; D058885:Multilocus Sequence Typing / Q000379:methods*; D010802:Phylogeny
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan
keywords: Argentina; Leishmania; Multilocus sequence typing