Visceral leishmaniasis animal reservoirs in Kenya.

Abstract

Cultures for leishmaniae were made from the tissues of animals in the Baringo and West Pokot districts of Kenya where kala azar is endemic. 219 lizards were examined and 59 were positive. 27 gerbils (Tatera robusta) and 80 domestic dogs were examined and one of each was positive. 593 other mammals were negative. Except possibly for the dog strain, these leishmaniae were not L. donovani.