Genetic diversity and structure in Leishmania infantum populations from southeastern Europe revealed by microsatellite analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The dynamic re-emergence of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in south Europe and the northward shift to Leishmania-free European countries are well-documented. However, the epidemiology of VL due to Leishmania infantum in southeastern (SE) Europe and the Balkans is inadequately examined. Herein, we aim to re-evaluate and compare the population structure of L. infantum in SE and southwestern (SW) Europe.

Methods

Leishmania strains collected from humans and canines in Turkey, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Greece, Albania and Croatia, were characterized by the K26-PCR assay and multilocus enzyme electrophoresis (MLEE). Genetic diversity was assessed by multilocus microsatellite typing (MLMT) and MLM Types were analyzed by model- and distance- based algorithms to infer the population

SUBMITTER: Gouzelou E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4029556 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature