Identification and taxonomy of human and animal leishmanias by lectin-mediated agglutination

The surface polysaccharides of two strains of lizard leishmanias, of the guinea pig parasite L. enrietti and of nine strains of human leishmanias belonging to the groups mexicana, donovani and tropica were studied by lectin-mediated agglutination. Twenty-three lectins prepared from seeds or from higher fungi carpophores were used. They revealed the presence of L-fucose, N-N'-diacetylchitobiose, alpha-D-glucose, alpha-D-mannose, beta-D-galactose, N-acetyl-D-galactosamine and lactose. We noted a range in the number and variety of lectin receptor sites detectable on the surface of the leishmanias, with the reptiles strains having the fewest sites and the tropica group having the most sites. We were unable to find specific group lectins, but it seems possible to identify a strain within each group by a lectin-binding pattern.