Differentiation of Leishmania (L.) infantum, Leishmania (L.) amazonensis and Leishmania (L.) mexicana Using Sequential qPCR Assays and High-Resolution Melt Analysis.

ABSTRACT: Leishmania protozoa are the etiological agents of visceral, cutaneous and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis. In specific geographical regions, such as Latin America, several Leishmania species are endemic and simultaneously present; therefore, a diagnostic method for species discrimination is warranted. In this attempt, many qPCR-based assays have been developed. Recently, we have shown that L. (L.) infantum and L. (L.) amazonensis can be distinguished through the comparison of the Cq values from two qPCR assays (qPCR-ML and qPCR-ama), designed to amplify kDNA minicircle subclasses more represented in L. (L.) infantum and L. (L.) amazonensis, respectively. This paper describes the application of this approach to L. (L.) mexicana and introduces a new qPCR-ITS1 assay followed by high-resolution me

SUBMITTER: Ceccarelli M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7355826 | biostudies-literature | 2020 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature