An appraisal of the taxonomy and nomenclature of trypanosomatids presently classified as Leishmania and Endotrypanum

Abstract

We propose a taxonomic revision of the dixenous trypanosomatids currently classified as Endotrypanum and Leishmania, including parasites that do not fall within the subgenera L. (Leishmania) and L. (Viannia) related to human leishmaniasis or L. (Sauroleishmania) formed by leishmanias of lizards: L. colombiensis, L. equatorensis, L. herreri, L. hertigi, L. deanei, L. enriettii and L. martiniquensis. The comparison of these species with newly characterized isolates from sloths, porcupines and phlebotomines from central and South America unveiled new genera and subgenera supported by past (RNA PolII gene) and present (V7V8 SSU rRNA, Hsp70 and gGAPDH) phylogenetic analyses of the organisms. The genus Endotrypanum is restricted to Central and South America, comprising isolates from sloths and transmitted by phlebotomines that sporadically infect humans. This genus is the closest to the new genus Porcisia proposed to accommodate the Neotropical porcupine parasites originally described as L. hertigi and L. deanei. A new subgenus Leishmania (Mundinia) is created for the L. enriettii complex that includes L. martiniquensis. The new genus Zelonia harbours trypanosomatids from Neotropical hemipterans placed at the edge of the Leishmania-Endotrypanum-Porcisia clade. Finally, attention is drawn to the status of L. siamensis and L. australiensis as nomem nudums.

Revised classification of the subfamily Leishmaniinae (Trypanosomatidae)

“…As a matter of fact, a clade with high support corresponds to a natural taxon but has no relation to a particular rank. In our opinion, the proposed change is not warranted and results in confusion with two alternatively defined taxa bearing the same name -Leishmaniinae sensu and Leishmaniinae sensu Shaw, Camargo et Teixeira, 2017. In addition, the expelled genera Crithidia, Leptomonas and Lotmaria Evans et Schwarz, 2014 become an orphan group.…”

“…In the latest revision the subfamily Leishmaniinae was contracted to dixenous Leishmania-related species along with Zelonia and Novymonas (see Espinosa et al 2017). The main argument for such an act was high support of this group on phylogenetic trees.…”

“…Recently, a revision of the taxonomy and the nomenclature of the subfamily Leishmaniinae with a focus on the genera Leishmania and Endotrypanum Mesnil et Brimont, 1908 has been put forward (Espinosa et al 2017). The authors made the following major taxonomic changes: (i) erection of the new subgenus Mundinia Shaw, Camargo et Teixeira in Espinosa et al, 2017 .…”

“…The authors made the following major taxonomic changes: (i) erection of the new subgenus Mundinia Shaw, Camargo et Teixeira in Espinosa et al, 2017 . Modifications of the entangled taxonomy of these parasites were long overdue.…”

Spliced Leader (SL) RNA: análises de genes e regiões intergênicas com aportes na filogenia, taxonomia e genotipagem de <i>Trypanosoma</i> spp. de todas as classes de vertebrados.

“…Porém, os caracteres morfológicos e comportamentais geraram muitas inconsistências e erros na classificação taxonômica destes organismos, tornando necessário buscar outros caracteres informativos, tais como bioquímicos, moleculares e ultraestruturais, para a descrição dos gêneros e grupos genéticos da família Trypanosomatidae. De todos os caracteres avaliados, o uso de marcadores moleculares tornou-se a metodologia discriminatória de maior poder e resultados confirmatórios, tornando-se a ferramenta mais empregada nas duas últimas décadas para a validação e reclassificação das espécies descritas e o posicionamento dos novos organismos encontrados (Svodová et al, 2007;Teixeira et al, 2011;Flegontov et al, 2013;Votypka et al, 2013;Espinosa et al, 2016).…”