RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To analyze the sequence difference of the SSU rDNA variable regions of Leishmania isolates from hilly foci and plain foci of China. METHODS: Specific SSU rDNA fragments from nuclear DNA of five Leishmania species and isolates were amplified by PCR. The amplified DNA fragments were cloned into pGEMR-T Easy vector. The specific fragments were sequenced by the automated DNA sequencer. RESULTS: Sequence analysis showed that the amplified DNA fragments of five Leishmania species and isolates were all 392 bp in length, point mutations were located in the two unique sequence (UQ-I and UQ-II); L. d. SC10 and L. d. GS7 had two same point mutations in UQ-II, only L. d. GS7 had one in UQ-I; no insertion/deletion. CONCLUSION: Sequence difference of the SSU rDNA variable region existed between Leishmania isolates from hilly foci and plain foci; The sequences of the SSU rDNA variable regions of L. d. SD2 isolate and L. infantum were identical.
