On Leishmania enriettii and other enigmatic Leishmania species of the neotropics

There are 20 named species of the genus Leishmania at present recognized in the New York, of which 14 are known to infect man. The present paper discusses the biological, biochemical and ecological features, where known, of six species which have till now been found to cause human leismaniasis; namely, Leishmania (Leishmania) enrietti, L. (L.) deanei, L. (L.) aristidesi, L. (L.) forattinii and L. (Viannia) equatorensis. A protocol is suggested for attempts to discover the natural mammalian host(s) and sandfly vector of L. (L.) enrietti. Doubt is cast on the validity of the species L. herreri, described in Costa Rica sloths. Following the concensus of opinion that modern trypanosomatids derive from monogenetic intestinal flagellates of arthropods, phlebotomine sandflies are best regarded as the primary hosts of Leishmania species, with mammals acting as secondary hosts providing a source of parasites for these insects. There are probably natural barriers limiting the life-cycle of most leishmanial parasites to specific sandfly vectors.

A protozoologist in Amazonia: neglected parasites, with particular reference to members of the coccidia (protozoa: Apicomplexa)

In spite of the vast source of material available in Amazonia, the extraordinarily rich variety of protozoal parasites in its fauna remains virtually neglected. During some 26 years investigating the role of wild animals as reservoirs of Leishmania, the author has been able to take a brief but rewarding look at other parasites. This review discusses some of the more interesting ones, in particular some controversial, "malarial parasites" of lizards; haemogregarines of reptiles and fish; and a variety of intestinal Coccidia of birds, reptiles and mammals.