Isolation of Leishmania species from wild mammals in French Guiana.
Between 1981 and 1987, 486 wild mammals collected from 13 sites in French Guiana were examined for Leishmania. Eleven of 31 two-toed sloths, Choloepus didactylus, were infected, 4 of the isolates being identified as L. braziliensis guyanensis. This species was also found in 2 Didelphis marsupialis and 2 Proechimys sp. L. mexicana amazonensis was isolated from 3 Proechimys sp., 2 of which were P. cuvieri. The role of these mammals in the life cycles of the 2 anthropotropic species of Leishmania encountered in French Guiana is discussed.
Dedet
J P
JP
Institut Pasteur de la Guyane française, Cayenne, French, Guiana.
Gay
F
F
Chatenay
G
G
D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild / Q000469:parasitology*; D005616:French Guiana / Q000453:epidemiology; D007891:Leishmania / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007896:Leishmaniasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008099:Liver / Q000469:parasitology; D008322:Mammals / Q000469:parasitology*; D008394:Marsupialia / Q000469:parasitology; D012377:Rodentia / Q000469:parasitology; D012867:Skin / Q000469:parasitology; D013154:Spleen / Q000469:parasitology; D004490:Xenarthra / Q000469:parasitology