An electron microscopic and cytochemical detection of concanavalin A receptors on the cell membrane of Leishmania braziliensis guyanensis.

Promastigotes of Leishmania braziliensis quyanensis cultivated in the NNN medium agglutinate with concanavalin A (con A). The protozoon was agglutinated at different concentrations of con A. Maximal agglutination was obtained with 150 mug/ml. Three types of agglutination were observed: flagellar-flagellar, flagellar-body and body-body. Cell surface polysaccharides, glycoproteins or glycolipids were demonstrated using the periodic acid-thiosemicarbazide-silver proteinate technic. A con A-horseradish peroxidase-diaminobenzidine (DAB) technic was used to detect con A receptors on the cell membrane of the parasite.