Karyotype plasticity in NeotropicalLeishmania: an index for measuring genomic distance amongL. (V.) peruvianaandL. (V.) braziliensispopulations

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Abstract
A method for phenetic analysis of karyotype data has been developed forLeishmaniapopulations. Measurement of size difference between chromosomes recognized by a given DNA probe in different isolates led to the formulation of a Chromosome Size Difference Index (CSDI). The method was applied to phenetic analysis of 4 sets of chromosomes – each set being recognized by a different probe – in 37L. (Viannia) peruvianaisolates sampled along a North–South transect through the Peruvian Andes and, in 11L. (V.) braziliensisisolates from the Amazonian forest (Peru, Bolivia and Brazil). Karyotype variability was better accounted for by CSDI than by a method based on disjunctive encoding of karyotype data. CSDI evidenced the nature of relationships betweenL. braziliensisandL. peruvianaand it provided a coherent picture of geographical and genomic differentiation among parasite populations. The latter did cluster according to their geographical origin.L. braziliensiswas found karyotypically more homogeneous thanL. peruviana. WithinL. peruviana, Northern populations were closer toL. braziliensisthan to SouthernL. peruvianapopulations. The validity of karyotypic populations, or karyodemes, was sustained.