title: Geographic Distribution of Leishmania Species in Ecuador Based on the Cytochrome B Gene Sequence Analysis.
abstract: A countrywide epidemiological study was performed to elucidate the current geographic distribution of causative species of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in Ecuador by using FTA card-spotted samples and smear slides as DNA sources. Putative Leishmania in 165 samples collected from patients with CL in 16 provinces of Ecuador were examined at the species level based on the cytochrome b gene sequence analysis. Of these, 125 samples were successfully identified as Leishmania (Viannia) guyanensis, L. (V.) braziliensis, L. (V.) naiffi, L. (V.) lainsoni, and L. (Leishmania) mexicana. Two dominant species, L. (V.) guyanensis and L. (V.) braziliensis, were widely distributed in Pacific coast subtropical and Amazonian tropical areas, respectively. Recently reported L. (V.) naiffi and L. (V.) lainsoni were identified in Amazonian areas, and L. (L.) mexicana was identified in an Andean highland area. Importantly, the present study demonstrated that cases of L. (V.) braziliensis infection are increasing in Pacific coast areas.
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Zoology, Department of Infection and Immunity, Jichi Medical University, Tochigi, Japan.|Laboratory of Parasitology, Department of Disease Control, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Hokkaido, Japan.
authors.forename: Hirotomo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Parasitologia y Medicina Tropical, Facultad de Ciencias Medicas, Universidad Catolica de Santiago de Guayaquil, Guayaquil, Ecuador.
authors.forename: Eduardo A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Gomez
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Parasitologia, Insitituto de Investigacion de Salud Publica, Guayaquil, Ecuador.
authors.forename: Luiggi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Martini-Robles
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Parasitologia, Insitituto de Investigacion de Salud Publica, Guayaquil, Ecuador.
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Muzzio
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Parasitologia y Medicina Tropical, Facultad de Ciencias Medicas, Universidad Catolica de Santiago de Guayaquil, Guayaquil, Ecuador.
authors.forename: Lenin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Velez
authors.affiliation: Centro de Biomedicina, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Central del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Calvopiña
authors.affiliation: Centro de Biomedicina, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Central del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Romero-Alvarez
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Tatsuyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mimori
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Uezato
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Parasitologia y Medicina Tropical, Facultad de Ciencias Medicas, Universidad Catolica de Santiago de Guayaquil, Guayaquil, Ecuador.
authors.forename: Yoshihisa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hashiguchi
mesh_terms: D045303:Cytochromes b; D004484:Ecuador; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007891:Leishmania / Q000235:genetics*; D007896:Leishmaniasis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology*; D010802:Phylogeny
chemical_list: D045303:Cytochromes b