Psammomys obesus cretzschmar, 1828 and zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis in Sinai peninsula, Egypt

ABSTRACT

In the Middle East, the fat sand rat Psammomys obesus is the most important reservoir host of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis [ZCL]. It is the most incriminated host in outbreaks. Two P. obesus caught in Wadi El-Gedeiret [El-Arish, North Sinai] were found naturally infected with Leishmania major as indicated by enzyme electrophoresis. In Egypt, the already known reservoir hosts are Gerbillus pyramidum I, Geoffroy St. Hilaire, 1825, Meriones crassus Sundevall, 1984 and Meriones sacramnti Thomas, 1922. The role of P. obesus as a host was discussed