Epidemiological and parasitological data for sporadic cutaneous leishmaniasis in northern Tunisia.

This study refers to 23 patients presenting with the sporadic forms of cuta neous leishmaniasis encountered in northern most humid parts of Tunisia. Cu lture inoculation for parasitic isolation was processed using two media: th e classical NNN and a rabbit serum based medium (SLC). Cultures were positi ve in 17 cases with SLC medium and 13 cases with NNN medium. Eight isolates were typed using 15 isoenzymes systems. Six isolates were identified as Le ishmania infantum MON-24 which confirms the crucial role of this zymodeme i n causing this form of cutaneous leishmaniasis. The other two isolates were identified as Leishmania infantum MON-1, which is the principal agent of v isceral leishmaniasis in the Mediterranean area.