ABSTRACT
Seroepidemiological studies of cutaneous leismaniasis were carried out in 169 individuals in a rural area of the Campeche State of Mexico. Fifty showed cutaneous lesions suggestive of leishmaniasis, 70 per cent were parasite positive and 96 per cent skin test positive. An overall 40 per cent positivity to skin test with Montenegro's antigen was found. Most of the effected individuals were males from 11 to 30 years-old. Antibodies were determined by immunoflurescent antibody test (IFA) and by Western blot. Two antigen preparations were used, one from a Leishmania mexicana strain which produced localized cutaneous leishmaniasis (LCL) and the other from a diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis (DCL). In the general population from the area of study 19 per cent gave positive IFA tests with DCL antigen and 20 per cent with LCL antigen while for patients 67 per cent gave positive IFA tests with DCL and 71 per cent with LCL. By Western blot analysis most of the patients recognized more antigens in the DCL than in the LCL strain. In the DCL strain 78 per cent of patients recognized a 105 kDa, 34 per cent a 139 kDa and 26 per cent a 205 kDa MW antigen. In the LCL strain 40 per cent of patients recognized a 205 kDa and 22 per cent a 175 kDa antigens.