Isoenzyme studies on Leishmania stocks from Peru by ultrathin-layer isoelectrofocusing

17 Leishmania stocks isolated from the Andean and Amazonean region of Peru were compared isoenzymatically with reference stocks of New World Leishmania subspecies by ultra-thin-layer isoelectric focusing. The enzymes tested were: non-specific esterase (NSE), alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) (NADP+), glucosephosphate isomerase (GPI) and superoxide dismutases (SOD). Two enzymes, GPI and SOD, gave a promising tool for differentiation of the majority of subspecies. These enzymes classify the stocks from Peru into the L. brasiliensis complex. However, none of the Peruvian stocks were absolutely identical to the reference stocks. Further specific enzyme patterns were found which may probably be an expression of greater heterogeneity of Leishmania parasites than is known today. There were neither correlation between clinical manifestation and enzymic patterns of stocks nor differences between stocks from the Andean or Amazonean region of Peru.