ISOLATION OF LEISHMANIA (L) MEXICANA FROM WILD RODENTS AND THEIR POSSIBLE ROLE IN THE TRANSMISSION OF LOCALIZED CUTANEOUS LEISHMANIASIS IN THE STATE OF CAMPECHE, MEXICO

Leishmania parasites were isolated from four of seven small rodent spe cies captured in the State of Campeche, Mexico. Signs and/or symptoms of leishmanial infection were restricted to the tail of the mice. Pero myscus yucatanicus endemic to the peninsula of Yucatan and Oryzomys me lanotis were added to the list of carriers of Leishmania. Leishmania ( L.) mexicana, characterized by an indirect immunofluorescence antibody method using monoclonal antibodies, was identified in one Sigmodon hi spidus and one Or. melanotis. The possible role of the different speci es as primary reservoirs of Leishmania in the peninsula of Yucatan is discussed.