Short report: detection of Leishmaniavirus in human biopsy samples of leishmaniasis from Peru.

Abstract

Leishmaniavirus is a double-stranded RNA virus that persistently infects some strains of the protozoan parasite Leishmania. There is considerable interest in the possibility that the presence of this virus alters parasite phenotype and may affect disease pathogenesis. If so, the virus marker could provide a valuable prognostic indicator for human leishmaniasis, particularly in those cases caused by New World parasite strains. The virus has been detected in cultured L. braziliensis, L. b. guyanensis, and L. major. To date there has been no information as to the extent of infection in samples prior to culturing in the laboratory. This study demonstrates, through the reverse transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction, that Leishmaniavirus exists in human biopsy samples of leishmaniasis prior to manipulation in culture.

Prevalence and Distribution of Leishmania RNA Virus 1 in Leishmania Parasites from French Guiana

“…This could thus explain the large difference of prevalence observed between our results and those previously published. [18][19][20]22 We here report the detection of LRV1 from different L. guyanensis and L. braziliensis isolates. 7,10,[18][19][20] None of the six L. amazonensis isolates tested were positive for LRV1.…”

“…[18][19][20]22 We here report the detection of LRV1 from different L. guyanensis and L. braziliensis isolates. 7,10,[18][19][20] None of the six L. amazonensis isolates tested were positive for LRV1. With the exception of the Leishmania panamensis species for which no LRV1 has been identified, 18 no information is currently available for the other New World Leishmania species.…”

“…Surveys of New World parasites have identified LRV1 only in isolates that originated from the Amazon basin, such as L. guyanensis and L. braziliensis. 7,10,[18][19][20] The average molecular prevalence of LRV that we report here in Leishmania spp. isolates circulating in French Guiana is equivalent to the one described by Bourreau and others, 21 but substantially higher (74%) than those reported in other South American countries, which ranged from 5.8% in Colombia, 18% in Peru, and 25.5% in the Brazilian city of Caratinga, Minas Girais.…”

“…isolates circulating in French Guiana is equivalent to the one described by Bourreau and others, 21 but substantially higher (74%) than those reported in other South American countries, which ranged from 5.8% in Colombia, 18% in Peru, and 25.5% in the Brazilian city of Caratinga, Minas Girais. [18][19][20] This difference can first be explained by the geographical origin of the Leishmania isolates and, second, by the type of biological material used for LRV detection. Indeed, in Colombia, the virus was detected from parasites originating from the Amazon area of the country whereas no virus was detected in other regions.…”

“…18 Concerning the type of biological material used for the search of LRV in all previous studies, this search was performed on human biopsies containing low amounts of the amastigote form of the parasite. [18][19][20]22 In our study, we used cultured parasites corresponding to the promastigote form (10 7 cells) in which the quantity of LRV has been reported to be higher due to virus multiplication in culture 25 (personal FIGURE 2. Distribution of Leishmania isolates carrying or not the Leishmania RNA virus (LRV), in French Guiana.…”