Isolation of Leishmania species from wild mammals in French Guiana

Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 1989 Sep-Oct;83(5):613-5. doi: 10.1016/0035-9203(89)90374-x.

Abstract

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.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Wild / parasitology*
  • French Guiana / epidemiology
  • Leishmania / isolation & purification*
  • Leishmaniasis / epidemiology
  • Leishmaniasis / veterinary*
  • Liver / parasitology
  • Mammals / parasitology*
  • Marsupialia / parasitology
  • Rodentia / parasitology
  • Skin / parasitology
  • Spleen / parasitology
  • Xenarthra / parasitology