Leishmaniasis in Brazil: XVII. Enzymic characterization of a Leishmania from the armadillo, Dasypus novemcinctus (Edentata), from Pará State.

A comparison of enzyme profiles, by starch-gel electrophoresis, has distinguished a Leishmania of armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus), from Pará State, north Brazil, from Leishmania braziliensis braziliensis, L. braziliensis guyanensis, L. mexicana amazonensis, L. donovani sensu lato (from Bahia, Brazil), and L. hertigi deanei. The parasite was separated from L. b. braziliensis and L. b. guyanensis by 8 of the 14 enzymes used (ASAT, ALAT, PGM, GPI, G6PD, PEP, MPI and GD), although differences in the mobility of some of the enzymes were small. At least 9 of the enzymes separated the organism from L. m. amazonensis, L. donovani s.l., and L. h. deanei.