Molecular and biologic characterization of Leishmania parasites implicated in an epidemic outbreak in northwestern Argentina

Abstract

Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis and its variants were implicated in the epidemic outbreak of mucocutaneous leishmaniasis that occurred in Salta, northwestern Argentina, in 1985. A total of 24 suspect- ed, untreated cases were evaluated clinically and para- sitologically. Four of ®ve stable isolates were consistent with the reference strain of L. (V.) braziliensis as determined by monoclonal antibodies and indirect immuno¯uorescence or radioimmunobinding assays. Zymodeme analysis in agarose gels showed a close relationship with L. (V.) guyanensis and L. (V.) pan- amensis. All zymograms obtained with polyacrylamide gels belonged to the subgenus Viannia; the patterns were di erent from, but very closely related to, the reference strains of L. (V.) braziliensis as determined by dendro- gram analysis. Hamsters infected with two isolates showed a pattern consistent with L. (V.) braziliensis. The pattern of development in the gut of Lutzomyia longipalpis was consistent with members of Viannia.