Detection of Leishmania RNA virus 2 in Leishmania species from Turkey

Leishmania RNA virus (LRV) is a double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) virus infecting some Leishmania strains and triggering a destructive hyperinflammatory response in mammalian hosts in the New World. There is limited knowledge of the presence of this virus in Old World Leishmania species and its role in the outcome of the disease. We aimed to investigate the presence of LRV in Leishmania species/strains from Turkey.

Twenty-nine previously identified Leishmania isolates (24 L. tropica, 2 L. infantum, 3 L. major) were examined for LRV positivity using dsRNA visualization in agarose gel after total nucleic acid extraction and RQ-deoxyribonuclease treatment and amplification of a 526 bp fragment of the LRV2-specific RNA-dependent RNA polymerase gene by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.

Ten (7 L. tropica [24.13%], 3 L. major [10.34%]) of the 29 Leishmania strains gave positive results for LRV. Basic Local Alignment Search Tool analysis showed that all these viruses are LRV2-1. LRV2 was detected for the first time in L. tropica strains in the present study.

The clinical manifestation and resistance status of the disease can be different depending on the host and parasite species/strains. The presence of LRV2 may be one of the factors contributing the course of disease. Further studies are needed to elucidate the specific role of LRV2, as it may be a potential target for effective treatment strategies.