A NEW RECORD OF Leishmania (Viannia) guyanensis (Trypanosomatidae) FROM THE PACIFIC COAST OF COLOMBIA

Abstract

The aim of this study wasthe identification of Leishmaniaspecies that causescutaneous leishmaniasisin a patient from Buenaventura, Valle del Cauca, on the Pacific coast of Colombia.Clinical samples were obtained from a 29 years-old male who presented a distinct ulcer with raised borders on his neck. Samples were taken for direct microscopic examination, parasite culture, and molecular identification of the infecting Leishmania species by sequencing of the cytochrome b gene. Direct examination was positive for amastigotes of Leishmaniabut the culture was negative. The infecting parasite species was identified as L. (V.) guyanensisby means of the nucleotide sequence of a 509 bp fragment of the cytochrome b gene. We report the presence of L. (V.) guyanensisin rural areas of Buenaventura in Valle del Cauca, and the expansion of the geographical distribution of this species in the Pacific region of Colombia.

Keywords

• cutaneous leishmaniases
• cytochrome b
• epidemiology
• parasites