ISOLATION OF LEISHMANIA-MAJOR FROM MASTOMYS-ERYTHROLEUCUS AND TATERA-GAMBIANA IN SENEGAL (WEST-AFRICA)

A total of 102 rodents [5 Heliosciurus gambianus, 36 T. gambiana, 11 Taterillus pygargus, 4 Cricetomys gambianus, 1 Rattus rattus, 3 Arvicanthis niloticus, 1 Myomys daltoni and 41 M. erythroleucus] were trapped in the Thies region of Senegal (West Africa). M. erythroleucus (3) and T. gambiana (2) were naturally infected with leishmanial parasites. Infections in the spleen, liver and bone marrow were found in animals without cutaneous lesions. All 4 rodent stains showed the same enzyme variant types [malate dehydrogenase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, glucose phosphate isomerase and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase]. Two excreted factor sub-serotypes, B2 and A1 B2, were distinguished. The nuclear and kinetoplast buoyant densities of DNA of 1 Mastomys strain were 1719 and 1703 g/ml, respectivelY. T. gambiana and M. erythroleucus are animal reservoirs of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Senegal.