Characterisation of Leishmania isolates from Laikipia District, Kenya

Publication Type

Journal Article

Journal Name

Acta Tropica

Name of Author

• N. N. Massamba, International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology Nairobi
• M. J. Mutinga, International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology Nairobi
• C. C. Kamau, International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology Nairobi

Publication Date

11-30-1998

Abstract

Using cloned kDNA sequences from the reference strain of Leishmania tropica IC-067, we have screened leishmanial isolates from Laikipia District of Kenya and identified these isolates as L. tropica. One isolate, IC-331, from a rat (Rattus rattus) was typed as L. tropica. This is the first time that L. tropica has been isolated from a wild rodent in Kenya and thus the first indication that the disease caused by L. tropica might be a zoonosis. The leishmanial isolates, especially those of sandflies, display extensive heterogeneity, prompting a need for selecting local and/or regional reference strains to generate species-specific DNA probes for use in identifying field isolates. Copyright (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.

Keywords

Heterogeneity, Hybridization, Leishmania, Reference strains

Disciplines

Medicine and Health Sciences

PubMed ID

9879738

Recommended Citation

Massamba, N., Mutinga, M., & Kamau, C. (1998). Characterisation of Leishmania isolates from Laikipia District, Kenya. Acta Tropica, 71 (3), 293-303. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0001-706X(98)00071-0