scholarly journals Multi-locus characterization and phylogenetic inference of Leishmania spp. in snakes from Northwest China

PLoS ONE ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. e0210681 ◽  
Author(s):  
Han Chen ◽  
Jiao Li ◽  
Junrong Zhang ◽  
Xianguang Guo ◽  
Jinlong Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Inference ◽  
Northwest China ◽  
Leishmania Spp

scholarly journals Multi-locus characterization and phylogenetic inference of Leishmania spp. in snakes from Northwest China

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Han Chen ◽  
Jiao Li ◽  
Junrong Zhang ◽  
Jinlei He ◽  
Jianhui Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Leishmania Donovani ◽  
Natural Infection ◽  
Protozoan Parasite ◽  
Phylogenetic Inference ◽  
Northwest China ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Network Analyses ◽  
Epidemic Area ◽  
Potential Reservoir ◽  
Leishmania Spp

AbstractBackgroundLeishmaniasis caused by protozoan parasite Leishmania is a neglected disease which is endemic in the northwest of China. Reptiles were considered to be the potential reservoir hosts for mammalian Leishmaniasis, and Leishmania had been detected in lizards from the epidemic area in the northwest of China. To date, few studies are focused on the natural infection of snakes with Leishmania.MethodsIn this study, 15 snakes captured from 10 endemic foci in the northwest of China were detected Leishmania spp. on the base of mitochondrial cytochrome b, heat shock protein 70 gene and ribosomal internal transcribed spacer 1 regions, and identified with phylogenetic and network analyses.ResultIn total, Leishmania gene was found in 7 snakes. The phylogenetic inference trees and network analysis suggests that the species identification was confirmed as Leishmania donovani, Leishmania turanica and Leishmania sp.ConclusionOur work is the first time to investigate the natural Leishmania spp. infection of snakes in the northwest of China. Mammalian Leishmania was discovered in snakes and the reptilian Leishmania was closely related to the clinical strains both prompt the importance of snakes in the disease cycle. To indicate the epidemiological involvement of snakes, a wide sample size in epidemic area and the pathogenic features of reptilian Leishmania promastigotes are recommended in the future research.

scholarly journals Pathogenic Leishmania spp. detected in lizards from Northwest China using molecular methods

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun-Rong Zhang ◽  
Xian-Guang Guo ◽  
Han Chen ◽  
Jin-Long Liu ◽  
Xiong Gong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heat Shock Protein 70 ◽  
Detection Rate ◽  
New World ◽  
Northwest China ◽  
Molecular Methods ◽  
Mixed Infections ◽  
Chain Reaction ◽  
Blood Samples ◽  
Leishmania Spp ◽  
Polymerase Chain

Abstract Background Leishmaniosis, a disease caused by pathogenic Leishmania parasites, remains an unresolved health problem in the New World and the Old World. It is well known that lizards can be infected by a subgenus of Leishmania parasites, i.e. Sauroleishmania, which is non-pathogenic to humans. However, evidence suggests that lizards may also harbor pathogenic Leishmania species including the undetermined Leishmania sp., discovered in our previous work. Leishmania DNA in lizard blood can be detected by using molecular methods, such as the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results Three hundred and sixteen lizards, representing 13 species of four genera, were captured for blood samples collection in Northwest China. Two reliable molecular markers (cytochrome b and heat shock protein 70 genes) were used for detection in the lizard blood samples, to confirm a widespread presence of pathogenic Leishmania parasites and the distribution pattern of Leishmania spp. in lizards from Northwest China. The PCR data indicated positive detection rate for Leishmania in all the tested lizards with an overall prevalence of 57.91% (183/316). Apart from lizard parasites like Leishmania tarentolae and Leishmania sp., several pathogenic Leishmania including L. turanica, L. tropica and L. donovani complex were identified by using phylogenetic analysis. Co-existence of different haplotypes was observed in most Leishmania DNA-positive lizards with an overall rate of 77.6% (142/183). Even mixed infections with different Leishmania species appeared to occur in the lizards with an overall rate of 37.7% (69/183). Conclusions Lizards can harbor pathogenic Leishmania spp. Co-existence of different haplotypes or even species of Leishmania indicates mixed infections in natural lizard host. Lizards may contribute to the spread of Leishmania parasites. The pathogenic Leishmania species detected in lizards from Northwest China may be of great eco-epidemiological importance.

Moss coverage improves the microclimates of subalpine forests: implications of Qinghai spruce recruitment in Qilian Mountains, northwest China

2019 ◽  
Vol 51 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Qingtao Wang ◽  
Chuanyan Zhao ◽  
Yunpu Zheng ◽  
Muhammad Waseem Ashiq ◽  
Xiaoping Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Northwest China ◽  
Qilian Mountains ◽  
Subalpine Forests ◽  
Qinghai Spruce

Recent Advances in the Development of Broad-Spectrum Antiprotozoal Agents

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio Moreno-Herrera ◽  
Sandra Cortez-Maya ◽  
Virgilio Bocanegra-Garcia ◽  
Bimal Krishna Banik ◽  
Gildardo Rivera
Keyword(s):  
Giardia Lamblia ◽  
Heterocyclic Compounds ◽  
Trichomonas Vaginalis ◽  
Mechanisms Of Action ◽  
Parasitic Infections ◽  
Parasitic Diseases ◽  
Pharmacological Treatments ◽  
Preclinical Development ◽  
Leishmania Spp ◽  
Effective Drugs

: Infections caused by Trypanosoma brucei, Trypanosoma cruzi, Leishmania spp., Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia lamblia, Plasmodium spp., and Trichomonas vaginalis, are part of a large list of human parasitic diseases. Together, they cause more than 500 million infections per year. These protozoa parasites affect both low- and high-income countries and their pharmacological treatment is limited. Therefore, new and more effective drugs in preclinical development could improve overall therapy for parasitic infections even when their mechanisms of action are unknown. In this review, a number of heterocyclic compounds (diamidine, guanidine, quinoline, benzimidazole, thiazole, diazanaphthalene, and their derivatives) reported as antiprotozoal agents are discussed as options for developing new pharmacological treatments for parasitic diseases.

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