(1) Background: Autochthonous leishmaniasis, a sandfly-borne disease caused by the protozoan parasites Leishmania orientalis (formerly named Leishmania siamensis) and Leishmania martiniquensis, has been reported for immunocompromised and immunocompetent patients in the southern province of Thailand. Apart from the recent genomes of the northern isolates, limited information is known on the emergence and genetics of these parasites. (2) Methods: This study sequenced and compared the genomes of L. orientalis isolate PCM2 and L. martiniquensis isolate PCM3 with those of the northern isolates and other 14 Leishmania species using short-read whole-genome sequencing methods and comparative bioinformatic analyses. (3) Results: The genomes of the southern isolates of L. orientalis and L. martiniquensis were 30.01 Mbp and 32.39 Mbp, and the comparison with the genomes of the northern isolates revealed species-level similarity with a level of genome and proteome variation, suggesting the different strains. Comparative proteome analysis showed six protein groups with 53 unique proteins for the strain PCM2 and 97 for the strain PCM3. Certain proteins were related to virulence, drug resistance, and stress response. (4) Conclusion: Therefore, the findings could indicate the need for more genetic and population genomic investigation, and the close monitoring of L. orientalis and L. martiniquensis in Thailand and neighboring regions.
Keywords: Leishmania martiniquensis; Leishmania orientalis; Leishmania siamensis; bioinformatics; comparative genomics; leishmaniasis.