[Canine leishmaniasis from Leishmania infantum: value and production of the latex test. Ecoepidemiologic applications]. / Leishmaniose canine à Leishmania infantum: intérêt et réalisation du test au latex. Applications en éco-épidémiologie.

The authors relate the realization, evaluation and eco-epidemiological applications of a "field-test": the agglutination of latex particles coated with a soluble antigen of Leishmania infantum in the presence of homologous antibodies. Evaluated on 1,035 canine sera, the sensitivity of the latex agglutination test (LAT) was 93.4% compared to the indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT). 90 node cultures were carried out on dogs with positive or negative LAT and/or positive or negative IFAT. The frequency of positive node cultures (70%) as versus positive LAT came between the results obtained for an IFAT > 1/40 (64%) and IFAT > 1/80 (73%). 32/33 (97%) dogs had positive node culture, LAT and IFIAT(> 1/80). 6 dogs had negative LAT but positive node culture: 5 of these had also an IFAT < 1/160. This test was used in the field on several eco-epidemiological surveys in leishmanian enzootic areas. Node cultures were made on the dogs with positive TL. 39 strains were isolated: 18 in Algeria, 15 in Morocco, 2 in Syria and 4 in Yemen. 13/39 strains were obtained from dogs with IFI < 1/160: 2 at 1/20, 8 at 1/40 and 3 at 1/80. In Algeria this test was also used for the diagnosis of human visceral leishmaniasis in a child. This quick, simple, sensitive and specific test could be usefully carried out on "field" surveys for the diagnosis of visceral-leishmaniasis in animals and human beings.

Leishmania infantum and L. major in Algeria.

Since 1980, the development of leishmaniasis in Algeria has been marked by a considerable increase in the number of cases of both visceral leishmaniasis (1121 cases recorded) and cutaneous leishmaniasis (more than 2000 cases per year). New Leishmania infantum and L. major foci have appeared in the north and south of the country. During this period, 100 strains of Leishmania isolated from humans, other mammals and sandflies have been identified. The presence of L. major MON-25 in Psammomys obesus and Phlebotomus papatasi had identified these species as the main reservoir and vector, respectively, of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis. Similarly, the presence of L. infantum MON-1 in Ph. perniciosus and dogs has implicated them as the vector and reservoir of visceral leishmaniasis. The isolation of the dermotropic zymodeme MON-24 of L. infantum from Ph. perfiliewi suggested that it was one of the main vectors of cutaneous leishmaniasis in the north of the country; the reservoir has not been identified. In addition, other zymodemes of Leishmania have been identified in visceral leishmaniasis patients, frequently associated with human immunodeficiency virus (MON-24, MON-33, MON-34 and MON-78), in patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis (MON-80), and in dogs with leishmaniasis (MON-34 and MON-77).

Leishmaniasis in Mediterranean countries.

The epidemiology of visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis is described in the Mediterranean countries where a recrudescence and a geographical spread of these zoonoses are noted. Recent findings concerning isoenzyme identification of the causative agents are given and the problems encountered in the development of vaccines to protect humans and dogs are discussed.

[Isolation of Leishmania major in Phlebotomus papatasi in Biskra (Algeria). The end of an ecoepidemiological saga]. / Isolement de Leishmania major chez Phlebotomus papatasi à Biskra (Algérie). Fin d'une épopée écoépidémiologique.

Out of 1,167 females of sandflies dissected, one specimen of Phlebotomus papatasi captured at a transmission site near Biskra, a well known Algerian focus of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis, was found naturally infected with Leishmania major zymodeme MON-25. This supports classical observations of Sergent and al. P. papatasi as vector in this focus in 1921.

[Leishmania major MON-117, an agent of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Mauritania]. / Leishmania major MON-117, agent de la leishmaniose cutanée en Mauritanie.

The causative agent of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Mauritania is identified for the first time as Leishmania major MON-117, a new zymodeme closely related to MON-26. The authors point out the need to study this previously unknown focus.

The sandflies of Algeria.

Twenty-two species of sandflies are known to be present in Algeria: 12 Phlebotomus and 10 Sergentomyia. Each species has its own ecological distribution except in the mountains of the central Sahara where both Mediterranean species and species of the Ethiopian zoo-geographical area occur together. Phlebotomus perniciosus and P. papatasi are the proven vectors of Leishmania infantum visceral leishmaniasis and L. major cutaneous leishmaniasis respectively.

[Presence of Leishmania major MON-26 in Mali]. / Présence de Leishmania major MON-26 au Mali.

The arabo-african zymodem MON-26 was identified for the first time in an autochtonous patient from Mali. L. major has been previously identified in this country but it was in European patient and it was zymodem MON-25.

[A new enzymatic variant of Leishmania infantum Nicolle, 1908, agent of cutaneous leishmaniasis in northern Algeria]. / Un nouveau variant enzymatique de Leishmania infantum Nicolle, 1908, agent de la leishmaniose cutanée du nord de l'Algérie.

For the first time, the pathogenic agent of cutaneous leishmaniasis in the North of Algeria has been identified as Leishmania infantum s.1. The parasite was found to be a newly discovered enzymatic variant (zymodeme 24) differing by two electromorphs from a variant isolated in France (zymodeme 11) from the same type of lesion. Until now, the dermotropic zymodemes of Algeria and France have not been seen in cases of visceral leishmaniasis of the Mediterranean Basin.

[Cutaneous leishmaniasis in northern Algeria]. / La leishmaniose cutanée du nord de l'Algérie.

A resurgence of cutaneous leishmaniasis is presently noted in northern Algeria. This form of oriental sore is caused by a parasite belonging to the Leishmania donovani complex. Its epidemiological and clinical characteristics allow distinction with the L. major zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis known to occur in the steppe regions of Algeria. Preliminary results of a clinical trial involving the use of ketoconazole, indicate that this drug is rapidly effective.

[The new focus of cutaneous leishmaniasis of M'sila (Algeria). Natural infection cf Psammomys obesus (Rodentia, Gerbillidae)]. / Le nouveau foyer de leishmaniose cutanée de M'sila (Algérie). Infestation naturelle de "Psammomys obesus" (Rongeur, Gerbillidé).

The M'sila region has been recently the theatre of an important outbreak of cutaneous leishmaniasis. The search for the animal reservoir resulted in the discovery of 3 rodents, Psammomys obesus, naturally infected with Leishmania. This is of importance as far as prophylactic measures are concerned.