IDENTIFICATION OF LEISHMANIA ISOLATES FROM A LEBANESE POPULATION

We report the results of enzymatic patterns of isolates of Leishmania cultured from patients referred to Department of Dermatology of the Am erican University of Beirut Medical Center in Lebanon. The results rev eal that these Lebanese isolates are all very similar despite variable clinical presentations of the patients and differences in geographic origin. Leishmania donovani sensu lato is the dominant species present in the skin lesions observed; thus, clinical manifestations and/or ge ographic distribution cannot be used as reliable criteria for identify ing Leishmania parasites from this geographic area. Enzyme data should be combined with these parameters before definitive identification ca n be made.