DISCOVERY AND STUDY OF LEISHMANIA-TURANICA FOR THE FIRST TIME IN CHINA

Reported are the results of multidisciplinary studies on Leishmania tu ranica, which was isolated from the auricular tissues of naturally inf ected great gerbils in Xinjiang, China, Discussed are the biology of t he parasite, ifs molecular biology, its pathogenicity in rodents and h umans and its vectors, This was the first time that L. turanica had be en reported in China, L, turanica is highly pathogenic in BALB/c mice, with the resulting systemic infection being lethal, and it causes der mal lesions in Meriones unguiculatus. L. turanica parasitizes the macr ophages in the interstitium of the testes of Cricetulus barabensis, an d entirely destroys the Leydig's cells of severely infected animals. i noculation of L. turanica can induce simian and human cutaneous leishm aniasis. The cell membrane and flagella of the promastigotes of L. tur anica have rather active ACPase, The major vectors of L. turanica were Phlebotomus mongolensis and P. andrejevi.