Molecular and biologic characterization of Leishmania parasites implicatedin an epidemic outbreak in northwestern Argentina

Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis and its variants were implicated in the e pidemic outbreak of mucocutaneous leishmaniasis that occurred in Salta, nor thwestern Argentina, in 1985. A total of 24 suspected, untreated cases were evaluated clinically and parasitologically. Four of five stable isolates w ere consistent with the reference strain of L. (V.) braziliensis as determi ned by monoclonal antibodies and indirect immunofluorescence or radioimmuno binding assays. Zymodeme analysis in agarose gels showed a close relationsh ip with L. (V.) guyanensis and L. (V.) panamensis. All zymograms obtained w ith polyacrylamide gels belonged to the subgenus Viannia; the patterns were different from, but very closely related to, the reference strains of L. ( V.) braziliensis as determined by dendrogram analysis. Hamsters infected wi th two isolates showed a pattern consistent with L. (V.) braziliensis. The pattern of development in the gut of Lutzomyia longipalpis was consistent w ith members of Viannia.