Leishmania enriettii (Muniz & Medina, 1948): A highly diverse parasite is here to stay

• Autor(a) principal: Paranaiba, Larissa F.
• Data de Publicação: 2017
• Outros Autores: Pinheiro, Lucelia J., Torrecilhas, Ana C. [UNIFESP], Macedo, Diego H., Menezes-Neto, Armando, Tafuri, Wagner L., Soares, Rodrigo P.
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Repositório Institucional da UNIFESP
• Texto Completo: http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1006303; https://repositorio.unifesp.br/handle/11600/54566

Leishmaniases are a spectrum of diseases caused by protozoans from the genus Leishmania (Kinetoplastida: Trypanosomatidae) and are divided into 2 main clinical forms: tegumentary leishmaniasis (TL) and visceral leishmaniasis (VL). Transmission occurs after the bite of sandfly vectors (Diptera: Phlebotominae) when females take a blood meal from the vertebrate host [1]. In the New World, several species of Leishmania (similar to 20) cause disease to man, the symptoms and epidemiology of which vary depending on species. However, there are species that are nonpathogenic to humans, such as L. enriettii. In 1946, Medina observed ear lesions in 2 farm-reared guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus [Rodentia: Cavida]) from the neighboring state of Sao Paulo. After lesion analysis, Leishmania was confirmed as the pathogen. The complete L. enriettii description was published by Muniz and Medina in 1948 at the Federal University of Parana A, Brazil [2]. Although this species has been used as a model for cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), many aspects of its biology remain unknown. In the past 6 years, an increased interest has emerged after the finding of a similar isolate in the red kangaroo (Macrofus rufus) in Australia [3]. This article aims to summarize some of the most important publications on this unique pathogen. It demonstrates a high phenotypic plasticity, being able to infect different vertebrate hosts and vectors. It also discusses recent human and veterinary infections due to other L. enriettii complex members.