title: Comparison of Leishmania killicki (syn. L. tropica) and Leishmania tropica Population Structure in Maghreb by Microsatellite Typing.
abstract: Leishmania (L.) killicki (syn. L. tropica), which causes cutaneous leishmaniasis in Maghreb, was recently described in this region and identified as a subpopulation of L. tropica. The present genetic analysis was conducted to explore the spatio-temporal distribution of L. killicki (syn. L. tropica) and its transmission dynamics. To better understand the evolution of this parasite, its population structure was then compared with that of L. tropica populations from Morocco. In total 198 samples including 85 L. killicki (syn. L. tropica) (from Tunisia, Algeria and Libya) and 113 L. tropica specimens (all from Morocco) were tested. Theses samples were composed of 168 Leishmania strains isolated from human skin lesions, 27 DNA samples from human skin lesion biopsies, two DNA samples from Ctenodactylus gundi bone marrow and one DNA sample from a Phlebotomus sergenti female. The sample was analyzed by using MultiLocus Enzyme Electrophoresis (MLEE) and MultiLocus Microsatellite Typing (MLMT) approaches. Analysis of the MLMT data support the hypothesis that L. killicki (syn. L. tropica) belongs to the L. tropica complex, despite its strong genetic differentiation, and that it emerged from this taxon by a founder effect. Moreover, it revealed a strong structuring in L. killicki (syn. L. tropica) between Tunisia and Algeria and within the different Tunisian regions, suggesting low dispersion of L. killicki (syn. L. tropica) in space and time. Comparison of the L. tropica (exclusively from Morocco) and L. killicki (syn. L. tropica) population structures revealed distinct genetic organizations, reflecting different epidemiological cycles.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie Médicale et Moléculaire (code LR12ES08), Département de Biologie Clinique B, Faculté de Pharmacie, Université de Monastir, Tunisie.|Centre National de Référence des Leishmanioses, Département de Parasitologie-Mycologie, CHRU de Montpellier, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France.|UMR MIVEGEC (CNRS 5290-IRD 224-Université de Montpellier), Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Dhekra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chaara
authors.affiliation: UMR MIVEGEC (CNRS 5290-IRD 224-Université de Montpellier), Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Anne-Laure
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Bañuls
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie Médicale et Moléculaire (code LR12ES08), Département de Biologie Clinique B, Faculté de Pharmacie, Université de Monastir, Tunisie.|College of Applied Medical Sciences, Clinical Laboratory Sciences Department, University of Hail, Hail, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Najoua
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Haouas
authors.affiliation: Centre National de Référence des Leishmanioses, Département de Parasitologie-Mycologie, CHRU de Montpellier, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France.|UMR MIVEGEC (CNRS 5290-IRD 224-Université de Montpellier), Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Loïc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Talignani
authors.affiliation: Centre National de Référence des Leishmanioses, Département de Parasitologie-Mycologie, CHRU de Montpellier, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France.|UMR MIVEGEC (CNRS 5290-IRD 224-Université de Montpellier), Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lami
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie Médicale et Moléculaire (code LR12ES08), Département de Biologie Clinique B, Faculté de Pharmacie, Université de Monastir, Tunisie.
authors.forename: Habib
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mezhoud
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire d'éco-épidémiologie Parasitaire et Génétique des Populations. Institut Pasteur d'Algérie, Dély Ibrahim, Algeria.
authors.forename: Zoubir
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Harrat
authors.affiliation: Centre National de Référence des Leishmanioses, Département de Parasitologie-Mycologie, CHRU de Montpellier, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France.|UMR MIVEGEC (CNRS 5290-IRD 224-Université de Montpellier), Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Dedet
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie Médicale et Moléculaire (code LR12ES08), Département de Biologie Clinique B, Faculté de Pharmacie, Université de Monastir, Tunisie.
authors.forename: Hamouda
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Babba
authors.affiliation: Centre National de Référence des Leishmanioses, Département de Parasitologie-Mycologie, CHRU de Montpellier, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France.|UMR MIVEGEC (CNRS 5290-IRD 224-Université de Montpellier), Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Francine
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pratlong
mesh_terms: D000352:Africa, Northern / Q000453:epidemiology; D000818:Animals; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious; D004586:Electrophoresis; D004798:Enzymes / Q000032:analysis; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D060005:Genotyping Techniques; D006801:Humans; D007891:Leishmania / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000635:transmission; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats; D010691:Phlebotomus / Q000469:parasitology*; D012377:Rodentia / Q000469:parasitology*; D062211:Spatio-Temporal Analysis
chemical_list: D004798:Enzymes