March 3, 2026Open Access

Direct sequencing of Leishmania donovani from patients in Garissa County, Northern Kenya, reveals a newly emerging intra-specific hybrid genotype

Key Points

Findings reveal a newly emerging intra-specific hybrid genotype of Leishmania donovani, posing a potential public health threat.
Genomic polymorphism evaluation uncovered significant genetic variations, including drug resistance markers.
Analysis focuses on genetic structure by directly sequencing samples from patients in Garissa County, Kenya.
These findings highlight the need for further research on the functionality of drug resistance genes in this evolving context.

Abstract

This pilot study reveals the complex nature of Leishmania genetic structure in Kenya and sheds light on the genomic polymorphism of L. donovani in this region, which in turn, may explain the evolving threat of VL in the region. As caveat, the genomic signatures of drug resistance genes that were identified should be interpreted with caution until their functional implication is clarified in future phenotypic studies.

Direct sequencing of Leishmania donovani from patients in Garissa County, Northern Kenya, reveals a newly emerging intra-specific hybrid genotype

Key Points

Abstract

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