Investigation of animal reservoirs of visceral leishmaniasis and the isolation of Leishmania major in Marigat, Baringo District, Kenya

Abstract

Animals were trapped in Marigat, Baringo District to investigate animal reservoirs of visceral leishmaniasis in an endemic focus of the disease. Several species of rodents, carnivores and reptiles were captured. Specimens of spleen, liver and blood tissues were taken from the animals. The specimens were triturated into sterile saline and then cultured into NNN medium, and some of it injected into hamsters intraperitoneally. Skin biopsies were also taken and cultured in NNN medium. Slide smears of all the tissues taken were made stained with Giemsa stain and examined under the microscope for amastigotes. Four isolates of leishmanial parasites were made from a gerbil and three monitor lizards