A suspected new species of Leishmania, the causative agent of visceral leishmaniasis in a Thai patient

Int J Parasitol. 2008 May;38(6):617-22. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2007.12.003. Epub 2008 Jan 15.

Abstract

A suspected new species of Leishmania is described as the causative agent of the third reported case of autochthonous visceral leishmaniasis in a Thai man living in Southern Thailand. The results of PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism and sequence analysis of the internal transcribed spacer 1 of ssrRNA and the mini-exon genes were different from those of previously reported Leishmania species. A direct agglutination test (DAT) revealed that antibody against Leishmania infection was detected in nine domestic cats. No potential vectors could be identified. A large-scale epidemiological survey of leishmaniasis should be urgently conducted since visceral leishmaniasis is considered an emerging disease of public health concern in Thailand.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Agglutination Tests
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Protozoan / genetics
  • Cats
  • DNA, Protozoan / analysis
  • DNA, Protozoan / genetics
  • DNA, Ribosomal Spacer / genetics
  • Dogs
  • Humans
  • Leishmania / classification*
  • Leishmania / genetics
  • Leishmania / immunology
  • Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / genetics*
  • Leishmaniasis, Visceral / epidemiology
  • Leishmaniasis, Visceral / genetics*
  • Leishmaniasis, Visceral / immunology
  • Male
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length
  • Poultry
  • Rabbits
  • Rats
  • Thailand

Substances

  • Antibodies, Protozoan
  • DNA, Protozoan
  • DNA, Ribosomal Spacer

Associated data

  • GENBANK/EF200011
  • GENBANK/EF200012