First isolation of a new species of Leishmania responsible for human cutaneous leishmaniasis in Ghana and classification in the Leishmania enriettii complex

Godwin Kwakye-Nuako; Mba-Tihssommah Mosore; Christopher Duplessis; Michelle D Bates; Naiki Puplampu; Israel Mensah-Attipoe; Kwame Desewu; Godwin Afegbe; Richard H Asmah; Manal B Jamjoom; Patrick F Ayeh-Kumi; Daniel A Boakye; Paul A Bates

doi:10.1016/j.ijpara.2015.05.001

First isolation of a new species of Leishmania responsible for human cutaneous leishmaniasis in Ghana and classification in the Leishmania enriettii complex

Int J Parasitol. 2015 Sep;45(11):679-84. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2015.05.001. Epub 2015 Jun 19.

Affiliations

¹ 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.
² 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.
³ U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit No. 3 (NAMRU-3), Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana.
⁴ Division of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK.
⁵ Department of Microbiology, University of Ghana Medical School, Ghana.
⁶ Ghana Health Service, Accra, Ghana.
⁷ Disease Control Unit, Ministry of Health, Ho, Ghana.
⁸ School of Allied Health Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Korle-Bu, Accra, Ghana.
⁹ 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.
¹⁰ Department of Parasitology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana.
¹¹ Division of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK. Electronic address: p.bates@lancaster.ac.uk.

PMID: 26099650
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2015.05.001

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.

Keywords: Cutaneous leishmaniasis; Ghana; Leishmania; Phylogeny.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Child
Child, Preschool
Cluster Analysis
DNA, Protozoan / chemistry
DNA, Protozoan / genetics
DNA, Ribosomal Spacer / chemistry
DNA, Ribosomal Spacer / genetics
Female
Ghana
Humans
Leishmania enriettii / classification*
Leishmania enriettii / genetics
Leishmania enriettii / isolation & purification*
Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / diagnosis
Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / parasitology*
Male
Middle Aged
Phylogeny
Polymerase Chain Reaction
RNA Polymerase II / genetics
Ribosomal Proteins / genetics
Sequence Analysis, DNA
Young Adult

Substances

DNA, Protozoan
DNA, Ribosomal Spacer
Ribosomal Proteins
RNA Polymerase II

Grants and funding

090678/Z/09/Z/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom