Short report: a focus of Leishmania mexicana near Tucson, Arizona.
Twenty-eight white-throated woodrats (Neotoma albigula) collected in Pima County, Arizona were screened for Leishmania using culture and the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Two rodents were culture positive. Isoenzyme analysis determined the isolates to be Leishmania mexicana. The two culture-positive and four additional rodents were determined to be Leishmania-positive by the PCR. These isolates extend the geographic and ecologic range of enzootic leishmaniasis in the United States and represent a new host record.
Kerr
S F
SF
College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio, Texas 78209, USA.
McHugh
C P
CP
Merkelz
R
R
D000818:Animals; D001130:Arizona / Q000453:epidemiology; D003470:Culture Media; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis; D007894:Leishmania mexicana / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012376:Rodent Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D016205:Sigmodontinae / Q000469:parasitology*
D003470:Culture Media; D016054:DNA, Protozoan