ANTIGENIC ANALYSIS OF LEISHMANIA ISOLATES FROM TACHIRA STATE, VENEZUELA

Studies of cutaneous leishmaniasis in 3 endemic foci in Tachira state, western Venezuela have revealed sympatric populations of parasites ca using both cutaneous and mucocutaneous disease. Immunological techniqu es and measurement of protease/acid phosphatase activities have been u sed to detect species-specific parasite antigens from 3 isolates from Tachira. Identified antigens of particular interest had molecular mass es of 100, 82, 66, 50 and 27 kDa, but there was a high degree of heter ogeneity between the antigens of the Tachira isolates and other Venezu elan strains of Leishmania braziliensis and L. mexicana. This heteroge neity has implications concerning the selection of antigens for use in serodiagnosis of leishmaniasis.