First Report and in Silico Analysis of Leishmania virus (LRV2) identified in an autochthonous Leishmania major isolate in Turkey

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Leishmania virus (LRV) has previously been identified in different Leishmania species. Host-LRV interaction is associated with exacerbated clinical manifestations of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) and may cause poor therapeutic response. CL cases due to L. major with large skin lesions resistant to routine therapy were recently identified in Turkey. Here, we report the first autochthonous case of cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by LRV-positive Leishmania major, using conventional PCR targeting the viral capsid protein of LRV. The lesion of the case was 6 months old, relatively large (4 cm), and did not recover despite three consecutive intralesional applications of glucantime. Assessment of LRV’s influence on prognosis and clinical outcomes of leishmaniasis, based on additional studies, is required. ©2019 by EDIMES - Edizioni Internazionali Srl. All rights reserved