Difference in DNA sequences in SSU rDNA variable regions among pathogens isolated from different epidemic foci of visceral leishmaniasis in China.

OBJECTIVE

To confirm the existence of point mutations in the SSU rDNA variable regions of 5 Leishmania donovani (L.d.) isolates from different epidemic foci in China.

METHODS

Specific SSU rDNA fragments from nuclear DNA of 7 Leishmania species/isolates were amplified by PCR and then cloned into pGEM(R)-T Easy Vectors. After that, the specific fragments were sequenced by an automated DNA sequencer.

RESULTS

Sequence analysis showed that the amplified DNA fragments of 7 Leishmania species/isolates were all 392 bp in length. All 5 point mutations were located in two unique sequence blocks (UQ-I and UQ-II), and no insertions or deletions were found. The identities of comparison of Leishmania in GeneBank were more than 98%.

CONCLUSION

Five point mutations exist in the SSU rDNA variable region of 5 L.d. isolates from different epidemic foci of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in China. Sequence differences of the SSU rDNA variable region exist among L.d. isolates from different foci.