First identifications of Leishmania infantum MON-80 in dogs in Algeria and Tunisia.

This study presents for the first time the identification of Leishmania infantum zymodeme MON-80 in 6 dogs stemming from Algeria and Tunisia using the method of comparative electrophoresis migration of the parasite iso-enzymes. As this enzymatic variant has been already described in humans with cutaneous and visceral forms of leishmaniasis in south Europe and in the Maghreb (Algeria and Tunisia). these observations reinforce the role of the dog as the principal reservoir host for Leishmania infantum complex.