Lectin binding strain-specific carbohydrates on the cell surfaces of Leishmania strains from the Old World.

Four-day-old promastigote culture forms of L. tropica major from USSR (LV-252, LV-253, LRC L-38) and Saudi Arabia (Kö, Ha), L. tropica minor from USSR (LV-239, LRC L-39) Leishmania sp. from Israel (Ro) and Saudi Arabia (Ve-322, Schwe, Ne), L. donovani from Sudan (3S, 1-S, LV-139) and India (LV-125, LRC L-51), L donovani infantum from Israel (LV-140), and L. aethiopica from Ethiopia (LV-1, LV-16, LV-24, LV-26) were tested using the following lectins: C. ensiformis, R. communis-120, A. polypoides, P. vulgaris, E. europaeus, D. biflorus, L. tetragonolobus, U. europaeus, L. alpinum, A. papillata II, A. hypogaea, and S. hispida. All strains reacted with C. ensiformis, R. communis-120, and A. polypoides. No agglutination reactions were observed with P. vulgaris, D. biflorus, E. europaeus, and L. tetragonolobus. Agglutination differences were detected by reactions with A. papillata II, U. europaeus, L. alpinum, A. hypogaea, and S. hispida. L. tropica minor (LRC L-39, LV-249), L. donovani (LV-239, 1-S, 3S, LRC L-51), L. aethiopica (LV-1, LV-15, LV-24, LV-26), and L. tropica major (LB-242, LV-253, LRC LK-38, Kö, Ha) are distinguishable with lectins. From L. tropica major two intraspecific forms can be identified: USSR-type (LV-252, LV-253, LRC L-38) and a Near East-type (Kö, Ha). The Leishmania sp. strains (Ve-322, Ne, Ro, Schwe) belong to the Near East-type. The strains L. donovano LV-140 and L. donovani LV-125 react as L. tropica minor, a fact which cannot be elucidated. The L. donovani strains from Sudan cannot be distinguished from the Indian strain L. donovani LRC L-51.