Raising the suspicion of a non-autochthonous infection: identification of Leishmania guyanensis from Costa Rica exhibits a Leishmaniavirus related to Brazilian north-east and French Guiana viral genotypes

Abstract

BACKGROUND Costa Rica has a history of neglecting prevention, control and research of leishmaniasis, including limited understanding on Leishmania species causing human disease across the country and a complete lack of knowledge on the Leishmania RNA virus, described as a factor linked to the worsening and metastasis of leishmanial lesions. OBJECTIVES The aim of this work was to describe a case of cutaneous leishmaniasis by Leishmania ( Viannia ) guyanensis, bearing infection with Leishmaniavirus 1 (LRV1) in Costa Rica, raising the suspicion of imported parasites in the region. METHODS The Leishmania strain was previously identified by routine hsp70 polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) in Costa Rica and subsequently characterised by isoenzyme electrophoresis and Sanger sequencing in Brazil. Screening for LRV1 was conducted with a dual RT-PCR approach and sequencing of the fragment obtained. FINDINGS Since 2016 Costa Rica performs Leishmania isolation and typing as part of its epidemiological surveillance activities. Amongst 113 strains typed until 2019, only one was characterised as a L. ( V. ) guyanensis , corresponding to the first confirmed report of this species in the country. Interestingly, the same strain tested positive for LRV1. Sequencing of the viral orf1 and 2 , clustered this sample with other LRV1 genotypes of South American origin, from the Northeast of Brazil and French Guiana. MAIN CONCLUSION The unique characteristics of this finding raised the suspicion that it was not an autochthonous strain. Notwithstanding its presumed origin, this report points to the occurrence of said endosymbiont in Central American Leishmania strains. The possibility of its local dispersion represents one more challenge faced by regional health authorities in preventing and controlling leishmaniasis.

Exploring Host-Specificity: Untangling the Relationship between Leishmania (Viannia) Species and Its Endosymbiont Leishmania RNA Virus 1

“…guyanensis strain [ 28 ]. Ever since LRV1 was detected in clinical isolates from Peru [ 38 ], Brazil [ 8 , 18 ], Colombia [ 7 ], Bolivia [ 19 ], Costa Rica [ 39 ], French Guiana [ 40 ], and more recently in Panamá [ 24 ], these viruses were observed not only in L . guyanensis but also in strains identified as L .…”

“…Virus-like particles were demonstrated in Leishmania parasites in the late 1970s [37] but the first molecular description of Leishmania RNA Virus was in 1988 for viruses found in the cytoplasm of an L. (V.) guyanensis strain [28]. Ever since LRV1 was detected in clinical isolates from Peru [38], Brazil [8,18], Colombia [7], Bolivia [19], Costa Rica [39], French Guiana [40], and more recently in Panamá [24], these viruses were observed not only in L. guyanensis but also in strains identified as L. braziliensis, L. shawi, L. naiffi, and L. The phylogenetic network shows sequences of clustering similar to those observed with the ML tree. The network, however, suggests a common ancestor relative to the structure for all LRV1s (Figure 4).…”

“…Virus-like particles were demonstrated in Leishmania parasites in the late 1970s [37] but the first molecular description of Leishmania RNA Virus was in 1988 for viruses found in the cytoplasm of an L. (V.) guyanensis strain [28]. Ever since LRV1 was detected in clinical isolates from Peru [38], Brazil [8,18], Colombia [7], Bolivia [19], Costa Rica [39], French Guiana [40], and more recently in Panamá [24], these viruses were observed not only in L. guyanensis but also in strains identified as L. braziliensis, L. shawi, L. naiffi, and L. panamensis [8,21,[24][25][26]41,42], indicating an old relationship between LRV1 and the L. (Viannia) subgenus. Furthermore, LRV1 was detected in clinical samples collected from patients infected by L. lainsoni [8] and L. peruviana [27], but no cultivated strains of these two strains that are positive for LRV1 are available yet, limiting our analyses.…”