Biochemical identities and differences among Leishmania species and subspecies

An analysis was presented for identification of 20 species and subspecies of Leishmania by cellulose acetate electrophoresis data from the enzymes glucose phosphate isomerase, mannose phosphate isomerase, and phosphogluconate dehydrogenase. Most Leishmania could be identified from data of these three enzymes. The CAE data for 20 enzymes from over 300 New and Old World isolates were combined, and an analysis of the data which included calculations of genetic identities and genetic distances was reported. High levels of genetic similarity and low levels of genetic distance were noted among comparisons of local populations of the same Leishmania, and lower levels of similarity and higher levels of distance were noted among intracomplex pairings. The biochemical data suggested that similarities and differences among Leishmania could be quantified as they have been in other organisms. For the most part the data presented were consistent with the taxonomic rankings which were based on morphology, behavior, ecology, and other biochemical data.