Sara Nemati1,2, Homa Hajjaran3, Soudabeh Heydari4,5, Asghar Fazaeli1, Ali Khamesipour6, Mohsen Falahati Anbaran7, Mehdi Mohebali4, Hamed Mirjalali2. 1. Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, 4515613191, Zanjan, Iran. 2. Foodborne and Waterborne Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 3. Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, 14155-6446T, Tehran, Iran. hajjaranh@tums.ac.ir. 4. Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, 14155-6446T, Tehran, Iran. 5. Department of Medical Sciences, Shahrood Branch, Islamic Azad University, 3614871151, Shahroud, Iran. 6. Center for Research and Training in Skin Diseases and Leprosy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, 1416613675, Tehran, Iran. 7. Department of Plant Sciences, School of Biology, University of Tehran, 14155-6455, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Despite the broad distribution of leishmaniasis in Iran, there is a little genetic information about the causative agents and epidemiological status of the disease. Genetic diversity of the parasite is suggested to be one of the factors, which influences the clinical manifestations of the disease. In this study, we investigated the genetic variations, population structure, and evolutionary history of Leishmania species from endemic foci of Iran. METHODS: Fifty-two isolates from humans, canines, and rodents from different endemic foci of Iran were used to sequence the N-acetyl glucosamine-1-phosphate transferase (Nagt) gene. Phylogenetic and structure analyses were performed to investigate inter- and intra-species diversity of the Leishmania isolates. RESULTS: In total, 10 haplotypes including L. major (n = 6), L. tropica (n = 2), L. infantum (n = 1) and L. turanica (n = 1) were identified across 52 isolates. Haplotype diversity (Hd) ranged from zero for L. infantum and L. turanica to 0.78 ± 0.136 for L. major. This study identified population structure of Leishmania isolates from different geographical regions of Iran. The results of the phylogenetic tree showed 4 distinct clades for each species of Leishmania. In addition, the highest intraspecies diversity was observed among L. major isolates. No correlation was observed between species and geographic distribution of haplotypes. CONCLUSIONS: Leishmania isolates were identified at the species level using the Nagt gene, low variation within species indicates conservation of this gene in Leishmania. The results provide knowledge into the evolutionary history of Iranian Leishmania isolates.
BACKGROUND: Despite the broad distribution of leishmaniasis in Iran, there is a little genetic information about the causative agents and epidemiological status of the disease. Genetic diversity of the parasite is suggested to be one of the factors, which influences the clinical manifestations of the disease. In this study, we investigated the genetic variations, population structure, and evolutionary history of Leishmania species from endemic foci of Iran. METHODS: Fifty-two isolates from humans, canines, and rodents from different endemic foci of Iran were used to sequence the N-acetyl glucosamine-1-phosphate transferase (Nagt) gene. Phylogenetic and structure analyses were performed to investigate inter- and intra-species diversity of the Leishmania isolates. RESULTS: In total, 10 haplotypes including L. major (n = 6), L. tropica (n = 2), L. infantum (n = 1) and L. turanica (n = 1) were identified across 52 isolates. Haplotype diversity (Hd) ranged from zero for L. infantum and L. turanica to 0.78 ± 0.136 for L. major. This study identified population structure of Leishmania isolates from different geographical regions of Iran. The results of the phylogenetic tree showed 4 distinct clades for each species of Leishmania. In addition, the highest intraspecies diversity was observed among L. major isolates. No correlation was observed between species and geographic distribution of haplotypes. CONCLUSIONS: Leishmania isolates were identified at the species level using the Nagt gene, low variation within species indicates conservation of this gene in Leishmania. The results provide knowledge into the evolutionary history of Iranian Leishmania isolates.