Fluorogenic assay for molecular typing of the Leishmania donovani complex: Taxonomic and clinical applications

Kelly Wilber Quispe-Tintaya, Thierry Laurent, Saskia Decuypere, Mallorie Hide, Anne Laure Bañuls, Simonne De Doncker, Suman Rijal, Carmen Cañavate, Lenea Campino, Jean Claude Dujardin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

25 Scopus citations

Abstract

We describe a new fluorogenic assay for the identification of species and intraspecies groups within the Leishmania donovani complex. The assay combined (1)2 polymerase chain reactions targeting the 2 cysteine proteinase b isogenes and (2) a fluorescence-resonance energy transfer/melting curve analysis of the polymorphisms within a 31-nt region. All strains within the L. donovani complex were distinguished from L. tropica, L. major, and L. aethiopica, and 5 distinct groups were identified within the L. donovani complex. Discrepancies were observed with the present taxonomy on the basis of isoenzyme analysis and concerned East African strains, which suggests the need for a systematic reevaluation of the taxonomy. The capacity to type parasites directly from clinical samples was demonstrated with blood and bone marrow samples. This rapid and high-throughput alternative for molecular diagnosis and epidemiological studies of visceral leishmaniasis could be adapted for use with other Leishmania species.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)685-692
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Infectious Diseases
Volume192
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 15 2005
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Immunology and Allergy
  • Infectious Diseases

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