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.
Highlights
Leishmaniasis is caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania, which is further divided into two subgenera, Leishmania (Leishmania) and Leishmania (Viannia)
Putative Leishmania in 165 samples collected from patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in 16 provinces of Ecuador were examined based on the cytochrome b gene sequence analysis
The present study demonstrated that cases of L. (V.) braziliensis infection are increasing in Pacific coast areas
Summary
Leishmaniasis is caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania, which is further divided into two subgenera, Leishmania (Leishmania) and Leishmania (Viannia). In Ecuador, leishmaniasis is a major public health concern reported in 21 of 24 provinces of the country, in Pacific coast subtropical areas, Amazonian tropical areas and Andean highland areas [2,3,4]. (V.) lainsoni, have been identified as causative agents of human cutaneous (CL) and mucocutaneous leishmaniases (MCL) in Ecuador [3, 5,6,7,8,9]. In Pacific coast areas, causative parasite species for CL have been identified as L. (L.) major-like have been reported as causative species for Andean-type CL, of which L. (V.) lainsoni have been identified as causative agents for CL and MCL [5,6,7,8,9] In Amazonian areas, L. (V.) guyanensis, L. (V.) braziliensis, L. (V.) naiffi, and more recently, L. (V.) lainsoni have been identified as causative agents for CL and MCL [5,6,7,8,9]
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