Further characterization of Leishmania isolates from children with visceral infection in Alexandria area, Egypt.

ABSTRACT

Two visceral Leishmania isolates from children (aged 1 1/2 and 4 years) living in El Agamy area, Alexandria, Egypt, were compared with 5 marker strains, and 2 other human isolates from Sinai and Sudan, identified on clinical and geographical grounds as cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis respectively. Isoenzyme variations were assessed on the basis of their electrophoretic profiles on cellulose acetate membranes. The enzymes studied were glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase E.C.1.1.1.49, phosphoglucomutase E.C.2.7.5.1, 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase E.C.1.1.1.44 (6-PGD), glucose phosphate isomerase E.C.5.3.1.9, malate dehydrogenase E.C.1.1.1.37, mannose phosphate isomerase E.C.5.3.1.8 and nucleoside hydrolase E.C.3.2.2.2. The last 4 enzymes could differentiate between cutaneous and visceral strains. The Alexandria strains proved to belong to the L. donovani complex; however, their 6-PGD pattern was identical to that of L. infantum, which was different from that of the L. donovani marker strain.