Diagnosis of Leishmania Using the Polymerase Chain Reaction: a Simplified Procedure for Field Work

Martin Lopez Division de Bioquimica, Departamento de Ciencias Fisiologicas, Instituto de Medicina Tropical Alexander von Humboldt, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Lima, Peru

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Rocio Inga Division de Bioquimica, Departamento de Ciencias Fisiologicas, Instituto de Medicina Tropical Alexander von Humboldt, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Lima, Peru

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Miguel Cangalya Division de Bioquimica, Departamento de Ciencias Fisiologicas, Instituto de Medicina Tropical Alexander von Humboldt, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Lima, Peru

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Juan Echevarria Division de Bioquimica, Departamento de Ciencias Fisiologicas, Instituto de Medicina Tropical Alexander von Humboldt, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Lima, Peru

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Alejandro Llanos-Cuentas Division de Bioquimica, Departamento de Ciencias Fisiologicas, Instituto de Medicina Tropical Alexander von Humboldt, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Lima, Peru

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Cristian Orrego Division de Bioquimica, Departamento de Ciencias Fisiologicas, Instituto de Medicina Tropical Alexander von Humboldt, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Lima, Peru

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Jorge Arevalo Division de Bioquimica, Departamento de Ciencias Fisiologicas, Instituto de Medicina Tropical Alexander von Humboldt, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Lima, Peru

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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.1993.49.348
Volume/Issue:
Volume 49: Issue 3
Page(s):
348–356
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Oligonucleotide primers directed to the minicircle kinetoplast DNA of Leishmania strains supported enzymatic amplification of this DNA by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A single product of 70 basepairs was obtained from parasites belonging exclusively to the L. braziliensis complex. Direct sequencing of the amplified product confirmed its minicircle origin. Skin biopsy specimens from human patients were used directly for the PCR. A pulse incubation of such specimens with deoxyribonuclease I prior to the PCR increased the reliability of the assay. Nuclease disruption of the kinetoplast network was expected to make more copies of the minicircle accessible to amplification. Comparative results between the PCR and conventional parasitologic detection procedures indicate that the DNA detection approach presented is by far more sensitive for diagnostic purposes. Innovations in the PCR protocol are presented that adapt the diagnosis of leishmaniasis to settings with minimal equipment and that are distant from central laboratories.

Author Notes

Copyright:
Copyright © 1993 by The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 1993
Published Online:
Sep 1993
Cover The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Print ISSN:
0002-9637
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