Characterization of kenyan isolates of Leishmania by Cellulose acetate electrophoresis

Thirty-eight Leishmania isolates from different host species (humans, mammals, reptiles and sandflies) from various parts of Kenya-were compared with six World Health Organization Leishmania reference strains. Isoenzyme variations were assessed on the basis of their electrophoretic profiles on cellulose acetate membranes. Out of 18 enzymes studied, five were selected for differentiating the Leishmania isolates. These were glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD, E.C. 1.1.1.49), glucose phosphate isomerase (GPI, E.C. 5.3.1.9), malate dehydrogenase (MDH, E.C. 1.1.1.37), mannose phosphate isomerase (MPI, E.C. 5.3.1.8) and phosphoglucomutase (PGM, E.C. 2.7.5.1).