Imported cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Cuba, 2017: role of human movement.

Background: Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne disease caused by several species from genus Leishmania. An increase in the number of cases related to human movement has been informed in the last years. Due to the increase of suspicious leishmaniasis cases arriving in Cuba during 2017, a general analysis is presented herein.

Improving the sensitivity of an hsp20-based PCR for genus detection of Leishmania parasites in cutaneous clinical samples: a proof of concept.

Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease of medical importance widely distributed around the world. Several methods are available for diagnosis but molecular approaches are highly recommended. To improve the sensitivity of an existing hsp20 gene based-PCR protocol to detect Leishmania parasites, primers were redesigned to amplify a shorter fragment using a new PCR variant (PCR-hsp20S).

Imported leishmaniasis cases in Cuba (2006-2016): what have we learned.

Background: Leishmaniasis is a neglected parasitic disease caused by spp., which is not endemic in Cuba. However, several factors (such as human activities, climate changes, and tourism) have led to an increase in the number of leishmaniasis cases in all regions, raising diagnosis and surveillance issues.

Detection and identification of Leishmania spp.: application of two hsp70-based PCR-RFLP protocols to clinical samples from the New World.

Leishmaniasis is highly prevalent in New World countries, where several methods are available for detection and identification of Leishmania spp. Two hsp70-based PCR protocols (PCR-N and PCR-F) and their corresponding restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP) were applied for detection and identification of Leishmania spp. in clinical samples recruited in Colombia, Guatemala, and Honduras.

Molecular identification of Leishmania spp. clinical isolates from Colombia based on hsp70 gene.

Introduction: Leishmaniasis is highly prevalent in Colombia, where at least six different species can cause disease of varying clinical presentations in humans. The identification of the infecting species is quite important for prognosis, therapeutics and epidemiology. Different techniques with variable discriminatory power have been used for the identification.

Phylogenetic analysis of the Trypanosoma genus based on the heat-shock protein 70 gene.

Trypanosome evolution was so far essentially studied on the basis of phylogenetic analyses of small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU-rRNA) and glycosomal glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (gGAPDH) genes. We used for the first time the 70kDa heat-shock protein gene (hsp70) to investigate the phylogenetic relationships among 11 Trypanosoma species on the basis of 1380 nucleotides from 76 sequences corresponding to 65 strains. We also constructed a phylogeny based on combined datasets of SSU-rDNA, gGAPDH and hsp70 sequences.

Molecular Chaperones of Leishmania: Central Players in Many Stress-Related and -Unrelated Physiological Processes.

Molecular chaperones are key components in the maintenance of cellular homeostasis and survival, not only during stress but also under optimal growth conditions. Folding of nascent polypeptides is supported by molecular chaperones, which avoid the formation of aggregates by preventing nonspecific interactions and aid, when necessary, the translocation of proteins to their correct intracellular localization. Furthermore, when proteins are damaged, molecular chaperones may also facilitate their refolding or, in the case of irreparable proteins, their removal by the protein degradation machinery of the cell.

Molecular and histological tools to diagnose an imported case of American cutaneous leishmaniasis in Cuba.

Background: Leishmaniasis represents a polymorphous group of diseases caused by around 20 different species of Leishmania parasite. Increases in the number of cases of leishmaniasis reported as a consequence of the growth in travel and migration are of concern to epidemiologists and are diagnostically challenging in non-endemic areas.

Methods: Molecular and histological analyses of a paraffin-embedded skin biopsy were used in parallel to detect Leishmania parasites in a Cuban woman with suspicious lesions arriving in Cuba from Venezuela.

[Detection of Leishmania spp. based on the gene encoding HSP20].

Objectives: Explore a new target for molecular diagnosis of Leishmania.

Materials And Methods: We evaluated the utility of the gene that encodes the heat shock protein 20-kDa (Hsp20) for detecting Leishmania by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). PCR was normalized and analytical parameters were determined, as well as the validity and diagnostic accuracy, and concordance with the PCR - 18S.

Direct Leishmania species typing in Old World clinical samples: evaluation of 3 sensitive methods based on the heat-shock protein 70 gene.

In the diagnosis of leishmaniasis, identification of the causative Leishmania species is relevant for treatment, prognosis, and epidemiology. Three new hsp70-based PCR variants were developed and recently validated on clinical samples from Peru, without the need for culturing. We evaluated their performance on 133 clinical samples (bone marrow, blood, buffy coat, lymph node aspirates, lesion biopsies) from 42 cutaneous and 56 visceral leishmaniasis patients and 35 negative cases, all from Old World countries (Italy, Sudan, Israel, and Tunisia).

Differentiation between Trypanosoma cruzi and Trypanosoma rangeli using heat-shock protein 70 polymorphisms.

Objective: Differential diagnosis of infection with Trypanosoma cruzi or T. rangeli is relevant for epidemiological studies and clinical practice as both species infect humans, but only T. cruzi causes Chagas' disease.

HindII and SduI digests of heat-shock protein 70 PCR for Leishmania typing.

Restriction fragment length polymorphisms of the heat-shock protein 70 gene have been used for discriminating Leishmania species. Here, we validated HindII as a much cheaper alternative to EcoRII and SduI for discriminating Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis from Leishmania (Viannia) naiffi and an atypical Leishmania (V.) braziliensis group, which was previously not possible.

Evolution and species discrimination according to the Leishmania heat-shock protein 20 gene.

The Leishmania genus comprises up to 35 species, of which 20 are responsible for human disease. However, the taxonomic status for many of them is under discussion. The small Heat Shock Proteins (sHSPs) are physiologically relevant, protecting cellular proteins from aggregation and maintaining cellular viability under intensive stress conditions.

[Leishmaniasis diagnosis: going from microscopic observation of parasite to DNA detection].

Introduction: Leishmaniasis is a disease caused by several species from Leishmania genus, which has been increasingly reported in the last few years. Several genetic, immunological factors and others related to this parasite have been associated to the outcome of the infection, and the occurrence of illness in varied clinical forms. All the aforementioned has an impact on the diagnostic method that should be used.

Accurate and rapid species typing from cutaneous and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis lesions of the New World.

The heat-shock protein 70 gene (hsp70) has been exploited for Leishmania species identification in the Old and New World, using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. Three new Leishmania-specific hsp70 PCRs were recently described, and we applied 2 of these on 89 clinical samples from a total of 73 Peruvian patients with either cutaneous or mucocutaneous leishmaniasis. The new PCRs on average showed a 2- to 3-fold improved sensitivity in the tested sample types (lesion biopsies, aspirates, and scrapings), for both genus detection and species typing, and were most successful in biopsies.

Effect of Bixa orellana against Leishmania amazonensis.

Background: In the present study, an activity of Bixa orellana extract against Leishmania amazonensis was demonstrated.

Result: Experimentally infected BALB/c mice were treated with B. orellana extract which showed a significant activity against promastigote and amastigote forms of L.

Screening of medicinal plants against Leishmania amazonensis.

Context: Leishmaniasis is a widespread tropical infection caused by different species of Leishmania protozoa. There is no immunoprophylaxis (vaccination) available for Leishmania infections and conventional treatments are unsatisfactory; therefore antileishmanial drugs are urgently needed. Natural products are attractive due to their structural diversity.

Chemistry, cytotoxicity and antileishmanial activity of the essential oil from Piper auritum.

Leishmaniasis is one of the most important parasitic infections, but current treatments are unsatisfactory due to their toxicity, cost and resistance. Therefore, the development of new antileishmanial compounds is imperative. Many people who live in endemic areas use plants as an alternative to treat the disease.

Phylogeny of Leishmania species based on the heat-shock protein 70 gene.

The 70kDa heat-shock protein (HSP70) is conserved across prokaryotes and eukaryotes, and the protein as well as its encoding gene have been applied in phylogenetic studies of different parasites. In spite of the frequent use of New World Leishmania species identification on the basis of restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP) in the hsp70 gene, it was never sequenced extensively for studying evolutionary relationships. To fill this void we determined the nucleotide sequence of an 1380bp fragment of the coding region commonly used in RFLP analysis, from 43 isolates and strains of different geographic origins.

Effect of oral treatment with the essential oil from Chenopodium ambrosioides against cutaneous leishmaniasis in BALB/c mice, caused by Leishmania amazonensis.

Background: The aromatic herb Chenopodium ambrosioides is widely known for its antiparasitic activity. The aim of this study was to investigate the antileishmanial effect of Chenopodium oil administered by the oral route at different doses and to compare its action to conventional, clinically used drugs.

Materials And Methods: BALB/c mice were infected with Leishmania amazonensis and treated with 30, 60, 90, 120, and 150 mg/kg of the essential oil for 15 days.

[PCR-RFLP and RAPD for typing neotropical Leishmania].

Introduction: The analysis of the PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism and random amplified polymorphic DNA have been useful tools for Leishmania identification.

Objectives: Molecular procedures were demonstrated for identification and typing of reference strains of New World Leishmania and their applicability was validated for clinical samples.

Materials And Methods: DNA was extracted from 16 reference strains of Latin American Leishmania as well as from clinical samples of leishmaniasis patients.

Combined effect of the essential oil from Chenopodium ambrosioides and antileishmanial drugs on promastigotes of Leishmania amazonensis.

To date, there are no vaccines against Leishmania, and chemotherapy remains the mainstay for the control of leishmaniasis. The drugs of choice used for leishmaniasis therapy are significantly toxic, expensive and with a growing frequency of refractory infections. Because of these limitations, a combination therapy is the better hope.

Activity, toxicity and analysis of resistance of essential oil from Chenopodium ambrosioides after intraperitoneal, oral and intralesional administration in BALB/c mice infected with Leishmania amazonensis: a preliminary study.

The World Health Organization has classified the leishmaniasis as a major tropical disease. Current therapy is toxic, expensive and cause several adverse effects. The majority of people in endemic areas of leishmaniasis depend of natural and traditional medicine.

Activity of the essential oil from Chenopodium ambrosioides grown in Cuba against Leishmania amazonensis.

Background And Methods: Current therapy against leishmaniasis is unsatisfactory. Efficacious and safe new drugs are needed. In this study, we show the leishmanicidal effect of an essential oil from Chenopodium ambrosioides against Leishmania amazonensis.