Leishmania donovanicomplex: genotyping with the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer and the mini-exon

Abstract
Intergenic region typing by restriction analysis of the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and mini-exon provide diagnostic markers for someLeishmania. Here, we evaluate restriction analysis of these targets for genotyping and phylogenetic analysis within theLeishmania donovanicomplex (agents of visceral leishmaniasis). Each method was useful for genotyping of bothL. donovanicomplex strains and Old WorldLeishmaniaspecies. The targets produced less robust groups than gp63 intergenic regions, but support the need for re-evaluation of the taxonomy of theL. donovanicomplex.