Multilocus Microsatellite Typing (MLMT) of Strains from Turkey and Cyprus Reveals a Novel Monophyletic L. donovani Sensu Lato Group
Date
2012-02-14
Authors
Gouzelou, Evi
Haralambous, Christos
Amro, Ahmad
Mentis, Andreas
Pratlong, Francine
Dedet, Jean-Pierre
Votypka, Jan
Volf, Petr
Toz, Seray Ozensoy
Kuhls, Katrin
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
PLOS
Abstract
Background: New foci of human CL caused by strains of the Leishmania donovani (L. donovani) complex have been recently
described in Cyprus and the C¸ ukurova region in Turkey (L. infantum) situated 150 km north of Cyprus. Cypriot strains were
typed by Multilocus Enzyme Electrophoresis (MLEE) using the Montpellier (MON) system as L. donovani zymodeme MON-37.
However, multilocus microsatellite typing (MLMT) has shown that this zymodeme is paraphyletic; composed of distantly
related genetic subgroups of different geographical origin. Consequently the origin of the Cypriot strains remained
enigmatic.
Methodology/Principal Findings: The Cypriot strains were compared with a set of Turkish isolates obtained from a CL
patient and sand fly vectors in south-east Turkey (C¸ ukurova region; CUK strains) and from a VL patient in the south-west
(Kus¸adasi; EP59 strain). These Turkish strains were initially analyzed using the K26-PCR assay that discriminates MON-1
strains by their amplicon size. In line with previous DNA-based data, the strains were inferred to the L. donovani complex
and characterized as non MON-1. For these strains MLEE typing revealed two novel zymodemes; L. donovani MON-309 (CUK
strains) and MON-308 (EP59). A population genetic analysis of the Turkish isolates was performed using 14 hyper-variable
microsatellite loci. The genotypic profiles of 68 previously analyzed L. donovani complex strains from major endemic regions
were included for comparison. Population structures were inferred by combination of Bayesian model-based and distancebased
approaches. MLMT placed the Turkish and Cypriot strains in a subclade of a newly discovered, genetically distinct L.
infantum monophyletic group, suggesting that the Cypriot strains may originate from Turkey.
Conclusion: The discovery of a genetically distinct L. infantum monophyletic group in the south-eastern Mediterranean
stresses the importance of species genetic characterization towards better understanding, monitoring and controlling the
spread of leishmaniasis in this region.
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Keywords
Citation
Gouzelou E, Haralambous C, Amro A, Mentis A, Pratlong F, et al. (2012) Multilocus Microsatellite Typing (MLMT) of Strains from Turkey and Cyprus Reveals a Novel Monophyletic L. donovani Sensu Lato Group. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 6(2): e1507. doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0001507 Editor: Paul Andrew Bates, Lancaster University, United Kingdom