Zeledón R, Maingon R, Ward R, Arana B, Belli A, de Carreira P, Ponce C
School of Veterinary Medicine, National University Heredia, Costa Rica.
Arch Inst Pasteur Tunis. 1993 Jul-Oct;70(3-4):325-9.
The disfiguring cutaneous and mucocutaneous and often fatal visceral forms of leishmaniasis are an increasing public health problem in Central America. There are some evidences of a highest prevalence of L. braziliensis and L. mexicana in Guatemala; L. braziliensis, L. panamensis and L. infantum (L. chagasi) in Honduras and Nicaragua, and L. panamensis in Costa Rica and Panamá. Our research project, just starting, attempts to use molecular approaches for a more rapid and accurate diagnosis and to identify the parasites. The techniques include non-radioactive DNA probes, PCR, schizodeme, isoenzyme analysis and monoclonal antibodies; and specific recombinant peptides will be used to improve immunodiagnosis of the visceral form. Intra-specific heterogeneity in Leishmania isolates will be examined by pulsed field electrophoresis and random amplified polymorphic DNA. Using selected strains, the techniques will be compared on a regional basis leading to a better knowledge of parasite distribution and the related clinical entities. Furthermore, DNA probes for the identification of parasites in vectors and for sibling species of vectors, are also to be applied; chemical identification of sandfly male pheromones will be attempted possibly leading to potential novel control measures.
在中美洲，毁容性皮肤、黏膜皮肤型以及通常致命的内脏型利什曼病正日益成为一个公共卫生问题。有证据表明，危地马拉的巴西利什曼原虫和墨西哥利什曼原虫感染率较高；洪都拉斯和尼加拉瓜的巴西利什曼原虫、巴拿马利什曼原虫和婴儿利什曼原虫（恰加斯利什曼原虫）感染率较高，而哥斯达黎加和巴拿马的巴拿马利什曼原虫感染率较高。我们刚刚启动的研究项目试图采用分子方法进行更快速、准确的诊断并鉴定寄生虫。这些技术包括非放射性DNA探针、聚合酶链反应（PCR）、裂殖体酶型、同工酶分析和单克隆抗体；并且将使用特定的重组肽来改进内脏型的免疫诊断。利什曼原虫分离株的种内异质性将通过脉冲场凝胶电泳和随机扩增多态性DNA进行检测。使用选定的菌株，将在区域基础上对这些技术进行比较，以更好地了解寄生虫的分布以及相关的临床实体。此外，还将应用用于鉴定媒介中寄生虫和媒介同胞种的DNA探针；将尝试对沙蝇雄性信息素进行化学鉴定，这可能会带来潜在的新型控制措施。
