Population Genetics of Phlebotomus papatasi from Endemic and Nonendemic Areas for Zoonotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Morocco, as Revealed by Cytochrome Oxidase Gene Subunit I Sequencing
Date
2020-07-06
Authors
Guernaoui, Souad
Hamarsheh, Omar
Garcia, Deborah
Fontenille, Didier
Sereno, Denis
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
MDPI
Abstract
Zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL) caused by Leishmania major Yakimo & Shokhor
and transmitted by Phlebotomus papatasi (Scopoli) is a public health concern in Morocco. The disease
is endemic mainly in pre-Saharan regions on the southern slope of the High Atlas Mountains.
The northern slope of the High Atlas Mountains and the arid plains of central Morocco remain
non-endemic and are currently considered high risk for ZCL. Here we investigate and compare the
population genetic structure of P. papatasi populations sampled in various habitats in historical foci
and non-endemic ZCL areas. A fragment of the mtDNA cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene was amplified
and sequenced in 59 individuals from 10 P. papatasi populations. Haplotype diversity was probed,
a median-joining network was generated (FST) and molecular variance (AMOVA) were analyzed.
Overall, we identified 28 haplotypes with 32 distinct segregating sites, of which seven are parsimony
informative. The rate of private haplotypes was high; 20 haplotypes (71.4%) are private ones and
exclusive to a single population. The phylogenetic tree and the network reconstructed highlight
a genetic structuration of these populations in two well defined groups: Ouarzazate (or endemic
areas) and Non-Ouarzazate (or nonendemic areas). These groups are separated by the High Atlas
Mountains. Overall, our study highlights di erences in terms of population genetics between ZCL
endemic and non-endemic areas. To what extent such di erences would impact the transmission of
L. major by natural P. papatasi population remains to be investigated.
Description
Keywords
Phlebotomus papatasi , Leishmania major , zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis , genetic structure , Cytochrome oxidase subunit I , Morocco