Leishmaniasis in central and southern Tunisia: current geographical distribution of zymodemes

The authors report the identification of Leishmania strains isolated from the Centre and the South of Tunisia. 266 strains were isolated between 1998 and 2006 from human (n = 221 strains) and dogs (n = 45 strains) hosts. The isoenzymatic identification exhibits the presence of in total five zymodemes belonging to three Leishmania complexes: Leishmania infantum, L. major and L. killicki. All strains isolated from human and canine visceral leishmaniasis belonged to L. infantum. zymodeme MON-1 was the only one isolated from canine visceral leishmaniasis. However, it is predominant in human visceral leishmaniasis beside zymodeme MON-24 which was detected in two provinces of the Centre (Monastir and Kairouan) and zymodeme MON-80 isolated for the first time in Kairouan province. Three complexes are responsible for human cutaneous leishmaniasis: L. major MON-25 is the parasite the most frequently found in its classic foci in the Centre and the South of the country. L. infantum MON-24 was isolated for the first time in a small locality of Sfax (southern Tunisia) showing the appearance of a new focus of L. infantum. L. killicki was isolated in its original focus of Tataouine and in two new foci of the central part of the country (Sidi Bouzid and Kairouan)

Leishmaniasis in central and southern Tunisia: current geographical distribution of zymodemes

International audienceThe authors report the identification of Leishmania strains isolated from the Centre and the South of Tunisia. 266 strains were isolated between 1998 and 2006 from human (n=221 strains) and dogs (n=45 strains) hosts. The isoenzymatic identification exhibits the presence of in total five zymodemes belonging to three Leishmanio complexes: Leishmania infantum, L. major and L. killicki. All strains isolated from human and canine visceral leishmaniasis belonged to L. infantum. zymodeme MON-1 was the only one isolated from canine visceral leishmaniasis. However, it is predominant in human visceral leishmaniasis beside zymodeme MON-24 which was detected in two provinces of the Centre (Monastir and Kairouan) and zymodeme MON-80 isolated for the first time in Kairouan province. Three complexes are responsible for human cutaneous leishmaniasis: L. major MON-25 is the parasite the most frequently found in its classic foci in the Centre and the South of the country. L. infantum MON-24 was isolated for the first time in a small locality of Sfax (southern Tunisia) showing the appearance of a new focus of L. infantum. L. killicki was isolated in its original focus of Tataouine and in two new foci of the central part of the country (Sidi Bouzid and Kairouan).Les auteurs rapportent l’identification de souches de Leishmania isolées au centre et au sud de la Tunisie. 266 souches ont été isolées entre 1998 et 2006 à partir de l’homme (n = 221 souches) et du chien (n = 45 souches). L’identification isoenzymatique de ces isolats à permis de mettre en évidence la présence de cinq zymodèmes appartenant à trois complexes leishmaniens : Leishmania infantum, L. major et L. killicki . Tous les isolats provenant de patients atteints de leishmaniose viscérale ainsi que des chiens leishmaniens appartiennent au complexe L. infantum Seul le zymodème MON-1 est isolé de chiens ayant la leishmaniose viscérale. Cependant, il est prédominant dans le cas de la leishmaniose viscérale humaine à côté du zymodème MON-24 qui a été isolé dans deux gouvernorats du centre (Monastir et Kairouan) et du zymodème MON-80 isolé pour la première fois dans la région de Kairouan. Trois complexes sont responsables de la leishmaniose cutanée humaine : le complexe L. major zymodème MON-25 est le parasite le plus fréquemment trouvé dans les foyers classiques de la leishmaniose cutanée zoonotique du centre et du sud tunisien. Le complexe L. infantum MON-24 est isolé pour la première fois dans une petite délégation du gouvernorat de Sfax au sud tunisien montrant ainsi l’apparition d’un nouveau foyer de L. infantum . Le complexe L. killicki responsable de la leishmaniose cutanée anthroponotique est isolé dans son foyer original à Tataouine ainsi que dans deux nouveaux foyers au centre du pays (Sidi Bouzid et Kairouan) signalant le début d’extension de ce complexe