Argentine scientists develop molecular method to improve leishmaniasis diagnosis
The new approach detects the parasite with high sensitivity and identifies the Leishmania species involved in an infection
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Photo source: gorodenkoff / iStock
Researchers from Argentina’s National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET) and partner scientific institutions have developed a molecular approach for diagnosing leishmaniasis. The method combines two polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques to detect Leishmania DNA and identify the species responsible for an infection, providing additional information for clinical assessment and epidemiological monitoring, reports BRICSLat, a partner of TV BRICS.
Leishmaniasis is caused by parasites of the Leishmania genus and transmitted through the bites of infected sandflies. More than 1 billion people in over 98 endemic countries are at risk of infection. The disease occurs in several forms.
The first PCR technique developed by the researchers is designed to detect Leishmania DNA even when only a small number of parasites are present in a sample. Positive samples are then analysed using a second PCR method that amplifies and sequences a fragment of the hsp70 gene, enabling the species to be identified. Marikena Risso, the study’s first author and a CONICET researcher, said the two-stage approach combines sensitive detection with molecular characterisation of the parasite.
The protocol uses domestically produced reagents and was evaluated on clinical samples from patients with suspected leishmaniasis. Researchers compared the results with microscopy, the reference diagnostic method, and tested the algorithm at two participating medical centres. According to Paula Ruybal, the project leader and CONICET researcher, the approach demonstrated sensitivity, reproducibility and reliability in detecting and identifying Leishmania species.
The researchers said that combining clinical assessment, serological tests, microscopy and molecular techniques can provide complementary information for diagnosing the disease. Identifying the parasite species can also help researchers better understand which Leishmania variants circulate in Argentina and support epidemiological surveillance. The next stage of the project will involve analysing a larger number of samples from different regions of the country and conducting inter-laboratory validation to assess the method in different healthcare settings.
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