A comparative study of D-lactate, L-lactate and glycerol formation by four species of Leishmania and by Trypanosoma lewisi and Trypanosoma brucei gambiense.

Leishmania braziliensis panamensis, L. donovani, L. major, and L. mexicana amazonensis promastigotes, Trypanosoma lewisi bloodstream forms, and T. brucei gambiense procyclic forms were incubated with glucose as sole carbon source. All species consumed glucose more rapidly under aerobic than anaerobic conditions. All produced glycerol under anaerobic conditions, though the rate of glycerol production by T. lewisi was markedly lower than that by the other species. The four Leishmania species produced D-lactate, but not L-lactate, whereas T. b. gambiense procyclic forms produced L-lactate, but not D-lactate, and T. lewisi produced both isomers.