LEISHMANIA-TROPICA IN EGYPT - AN UNDESIRABLE IMPORT

Cutaneous as well as visceral leishmaniasis has been previously report ed in Egypt. The former clinical manifestation is attributed to Leishm ania major, the latter to L. infantum. In this study, L. tropica was i solated from an Egyptian labourer returning from Saudi Arabia. Amastig otes were detected by both Giemsa staining and indirect immunofluoresc ence using rabbit anti-gp63. Promastigotes from Schneider's medium wer e typed isoenzymatically as L. tropica. In view of the emerging threat of visceralization of L. tropica, the potential risk for its transmis sion in Egypt is discussed.