[Enzymatic typing of 11 strains of Leishmania isolated in mainland Italy from the visceral murine, canine and vulpine forms. Demonstration of an enzymatic variant in the fox (Vulpes vulpes) and the dog].

Enzyme typing by starch gel electrophoretic techniques was carried out on 11 Leishmania isolates from Italy in laboratories in Montpellier and London. The enzymes studied in the former were ME, G-6-PD, 6-PGD, PGM, PGI, GOT (= ASAT), MDH and IDH. In London slightly different procedures were used to examine ME, 6-PGD, PGM, PGI and ASAT. In addition, SOD, ALAT, NH, and MPI were studied. The combined data revealed that four Rattus rattus and four dogs were infected with classical L. infantum (zymodème 1). In addition, two other dogs and a fox were infected with an enzyme variant (zymodème 18) which differed in four of the 12 enzymes examined. These findings raise the question of the heterogeneity of the parasites causing visceral leishmaniasis.