[Leishmania infantum Nicolle, 1908, the agent of the autochthonous oriental sore. Apropos of the biochemical identification of 2 strains isolated in the eastern Pyrenees].

Two strains of parasites isolated from cases of oriental sore in the Pyrénées-Orientales were identified by electrophoretic analysis of eight isoenzymes (PGM, PGI, G-6-PDH, 6-PGDH, IDH, MDH, ME and GOT). Both strains were identical with Leishmania infantum Nicolle, 1908, which normally causes visceral leishmaniasis. It is probable that, in the Mediterranean region, some cutaneous lesions observed within the area of visceral leishmaniasis are caused by this species rather than by Leishmania tropica (Wright, 1903) or Leishmania major (Yakimoff and Schokor, 1914) traditionally believed to be agents of cutaneous leishmaniasis in the Old World.