bioRxivEvolutionary BiologyPreprint
The global dispersal of visceral leishmaniasis occurred within human history
João Luís Reis-CunhaiD, Cooper Alastair GraceiD, Sophia Ahmed, Simon HarnqvistiD, Cian J. LynchiD, Mariana Côrtes BoitéiD, Gabrielle Barcellos, Laurence LachaudiD, Patrick BastieniD, Harry MuntiD, Jeremy Charles MottramiD, Elisa CupolilloiD, Daniel Charlton JeffaresiD
Abstract
The Leishmania donovani species complex (LdSC) causes visceral leishmaniasis (VL), is present in Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the Americas, and causes 20-40,000 fatalities per year. Previous analyses concluded that dispersal of this species complex occurred 1-10 million years ago. Using updated methods and data, we show that a ten-thousand year old East African population dispersed globally only within the last 2,000 years, consistent with human migration, war and colonisation as driving factors.
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