Ecoépidémiologie des leishmanioses en Syrie. 1 — Infestation dePsammomys obesusCretzschmar (Rodentia-Gerbillidae) parLeishmania majorYakimoff et Schokhor (Kinetoplastida-Trypanosomatidae)

Abstract

During an epidemiological survey of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis in South-West Syria, Leishmania major zymodème MON-26 was isolated from a reservoir host, Psammomys obesus terraesanctae (Rodentia-Gerbillidae). The abundance of this rodent, its close contact with infected villages and the high prevalence of the infection (63,1%) indicate that this is the main reservoir host of oriental sore in the semi desert area of this country.