First report of Leishmania RNA virus 1 in Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis clinical isolates from Rio de Janeiro State - Brazil

BACKGROUND Leishmania parasites carry a double-stranded RNA virus (Leishmania RNA virus - LRV) that has been divided in LRV1 and LRV2. OBJECTIVES Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis clinical isolates were assessed in order to determine LRV presence. METHODS Two-round polymerase chain reaction (PCR and nested PCR) was performed to detect LRV1 or LRV2 in L. (V.) braziliensis clinical isolates (n = 12). FINDINGS LRV1 was detected in three clinical isolates which was phylogenetically related to other sequences reported from other American tegumentary leishmaniasis (ATL) endemic areas of Brazil. Patients infected with L. (V.) braziliensis LRV-negative showed only cutaneous lesions while LRV-positive reported different manifestations. MAIN CONCLUSION Data presented here show for the first time that LRV1 is circulating in L. (V.) braziliensis clinical isolates from Rio de Janeiro State in Brazil.

背景：利什曼原虫（Leishmania）携带有一种双链RNA病毒——利什曼RNA病毒（Leishmania RNA virus，LRV），该病毒可分为LRV1与LRV2两个型别。
目的：本研究针对巴西利什曼原虫（Viannia亚属）（Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis）临床分离株开展检测，以明确其LRV携带情况。
方法：采用两轮聚合酶链式反应（polymerase chain reaction，PCR）与巢式PCR（nested PCR）对12株该类临床分离株中的LRV1与LRV2进行检测。
结果：本研究在3株临床分离株中检测到LRV1，该毒株的系统发育序列与巴西其他美洲皮肤利什曼病（American tegumentary leishmaniasis，ATL）流行区报道的相关序列具有亲缘关系。感染LRV阴性巴西利什曼原虫（Viannia亚属）的患者仅表现为皮肤皮损，而LRV阳性感染者则出现多种不同的临床表现。
主要结论：本研究首次证实，巴西里约热内卢州的巴西利什曼原虫（Viannia亚属）临床分离株中存在LRV1的流行传播。