Detecção de modificações gênicas em amostras de Leishmania (L.) infantum chagasi proveniente de diferentes regiões de Minas Gerais

Abstract

Leishmaniasis are diseases caused by several species of the genus Leishmania and these obligatory intracellular parasites are transmitted by the bite of female’s sand flies. The disease has been considered as reemerging and the second leading cause of death among major parasitic infections. In Brazil and Latin America, visceral leishmaniasis is caused by Leishmania (L.) infantum chagasi, and may present clinical manifestations or remain asymptomatic, where patients may have their phagocytic system strongly infected, affecting both humans and other susceptible hosts, and is the case of dogs, which are the main reservoirs. The treatment of Leishmaniasis in Brazil is mainly performed with drugs known as pentavalent antimonials (SbV), however, in the last decades the resistance of Leishmania sp. to antimonial drugs has been increasing since these species present a unique genomic organization among eukaryotes and highly efficient mechanisms as an escape mechanism. For this purpose, DNA samples from dogs positive for canine visceral leishmaniasis, sent from the cities of Alfenas, Divinópolis, Guapé, Governador Valadares, Juiz de Fora, Ouro Preto, Poços de Caldas, Sete Lagoas and Três Pontas were investigated; delimiting a comprehensive study area of the State of Minas Gerais. Samples were amplified by real-time PCR, conventional PCR, sequenced and compared for gene amplifications related to possible modifications. Thus, genetically modified regions were detected in circulating strains of some regions of the State of Minas Gerais when compared to standard strains.