title: First isolation of a new species of Leishmania responsible for human cutaneous leishmaniasis in Ghana and classification in the Leishmania enriettii complex.
abstract: An active case detection approach with PCR diagnosis was used in the Ho District of the Volta Region, Ghana that identified individuals with active cutaneous leishmaniasis. Three isolates were successfully cultured and DNA sequences from these were analysed (ribosomal RNA internal transcribed spacer 1; ribosomal protein L23a intergenic spacer; RNA polymerase II large subunit), showing them to be Leishmania, identical to each other but different from all other known Leishmania spp. Phylogenetic analysis showed the parasites to be new members of the Leishmania enriettii complex, which is emerging as a possible new subgenus of Leishmania parasites containing human pathogens.
authors.affiliation: Division of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK; Department of Biomedical and Forensic Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.
authors.forename: Godwin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kwakye-Nuako
authors.affiliation: U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit No. 3 (NAMRU-3), Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana; Department of Parasitology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: Mba-Tihssommah
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Mosore
authors.affiliation: U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit No. 3 (NAMRU-3), Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Duplessis
authors.affiliation: Division of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK.
authors.forename: Michelle D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Bates
authors.affiliation: U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit No. 3 (NAMRU-3), Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: Naiki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Puplampu
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Ghana Medical School, Ghana.
authors.forename: Israel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mensah-Attipoe
authors.affiliation: Ghana Health Service, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: Kwame
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Desewu
authors.affiliation: Disease Control Unit, Ministry of Health, Ho, Ghana.
authors.forename: Godwin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Afegbe
authors.affiliation: School of Allied Health Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Korle-Bu, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: Richard H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Asmah
authors.affiliation: Division of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK.
authors.forename: Manal B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Jamjoom
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Ghana Medical School, Ghana; School of Allied Health Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Korle-Bu, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: Patrick F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Ayeh-Kumi
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: Daniel A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Boakye
authors.affiliation: Division of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK. Electronic address: p.bates@lancaster.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Paul A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Bates
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005869:Ghana; D006801:Humans; D018313:Leishmania enriettii / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000469:parasitology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012319:RNA Polymerase II / Q000235:genetics; D012269:Ribosomal Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer; D012269:Ribosomal Proteins; D012319:RNA Polymerase II
keywords: Cutaneous leishmaniasis; Ghana; Leishmania; Phylogeny