CONFIRMATION OF TATERA INDICA (RODENTIA: GERBILLDAE) AS THE MAIN RESERVOIR HOST OF ZOONOTIC CUTANEOUS LEISHMANIASIS IN THE WEST OF IRAN

During our study (summer of 1994) twenty two Tatera indica were collected and two out of them (9.09%) were naturally infected with amastigote. Parasites were cultured in NNN+LIT medium and isolated promastigotes were sent to the Medical University of Montpellier in France for identification. The result of isoenzyme showed, the parasite was Leishmania major zymodem MON 26-(=LON 1), therefore Tatera Indica was known the main reservoir host of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis in the west of Iran. This is the first report on the isolation and identification of L.major zymodem MON 26-(=LON 1) from this species of rodent. In the meantime, Rhombomys opimus was absent in these areas.