The isolation of Leishmania braziliensis from sloths in Costa Rica

Eight out of 47 Bradypus griseus and 14 out of 18 Choloepus hoffmanni yielded positive cultures for flagellates from blood, skin, liver or spleen. In some cases, more than one species of flagellate was isolated from one animal or site. Although amastigotes were obtained in tissue cultures from several isolates containing different types of promastigotes, only four of these strains (two from each species of host) were infective for hamsters and considered as Leishmania braziliensis. Infection with one of the strains was possible only after it has been passed through tissue culture.