Natural Leishmania donovani/Leishmania aethiopica hybrids identified from Ethiopia

► A natural hybrid derived from Leishmania aethiopica and Leishmania donovani was identified. ► Both single-locus and genome-wide screening confirmed the hybrid nature of the strain. ► The hybrid strain has been systematically misclassified as L. aethiopica. ► Further epidemiological monitoring in Ethiopia is recommended.