[The isoenzyme identification and pathogenic characteristics of clones of Leishmania major, L. sp. nov. and L. gerbilli].

Using Fonbrune's micromanipulators, 16 freshly obtained Leishmania isolates (13 from R. opimus, 1 from P. papatasi, 2 from patients with skin leishmaniasis) have been cloned. 4 out of them were L. major isolates, 5 were L. sp. nov. isolates, 5 were mixed L. major and L. sp. nov. isolates and 1 was L. gerbilli isolate. 316 clones were identified using electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gel by 8 enzymes: PGI, PGM, 6-PGD, MDG, G-6-PGD, ME, ALAT, ASAT--and tested for pathogenic activity on golden hamsters. It has been shown that clones of different Leishmania species are characterized by specific pathogenic activity (L. major, by high and L. sp. nov. and L. gerbilli, by low activity). 9-25% of isolates obtained from R. opimus consisted of L. major-L. sp. nov. clone mixture. The isolates obtained from patients with skin leishmaniasis consisted of L. major clones alone. The rate and nature of changes in Leishmania isolate properties during cultivation in different media and golden hamsters depends on the species clone structure of the isolate.