THE LEISHMANIAS, WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE ROLE OF ANIMAL RESERVOIRS

Six varieties of Leishmaniasis are briefly described, namely,visceral leishmaniasis, oriental sore, Chiclero's ulcer, Panamaniancutaneous leishmaniasis, mucocutaneous leishmaniasis, and Uta.The natural foci of these diseases are described, and the evolutionof each infection from its original location in the animal reservoirto total humanisation is followed. In the main, the wild canidaeform the reservoir of the visceral diseases, and rodents ofthe cutaneous form. Many fallacies exist in the interpretation of what constitutesa zoonosis in leishmaniasis, and each situation must be lookedat very carefully to ascertain the precise epidemiology. Thecontrol measures depend entirely upon a correct assessment ofthe position.