In Vitro Study on Four Types of Commercial Lectins on Leishmania infantum, L. major and L. tropica with Stage-Specific Binding and Leishmania Species Identification

Background: We aimed to verify the susceptibility of Leishmania infantum, L. major and L. tropica, to commercial lectins in order to identify the three Leishmania species. Methods: The degree of agglutination was determined both macroscopically and microscopically and was scored negative (-) to positive (from 1+- 4+) based on their percentage of agglutination. Results: Jacalin and UEA-1 were capable of agglutination of L. infantum isolates in both logarithmic and stationary phases at a concentration of 1000 µg/ml (100%). L. tropica isolates showed agglutination with the lectin UEA-1 in both logarithmic and stationary phases (62.5% and 87.5%). L. major and L. tropica showed 75% agglutination with lectin Jacalin in both logarithmic and stationary phases. L. tropica isolates showed 25% agglutination with the lectin WGA in the logarithmic phase. L. infantum, L. major and L. tropica isolates showed 25, 12.5 and 37.5% agglutination in the stationary phase, however, did not show agglutination in logarithmic phases. L. major isolates showed 12.5% agglutination with the lectin PHA in the stationary phase, however, were incapable of agglutination with the L. tropica and L. infantum in both logarithmic and stationary phases. Conclusion: Despite the fact, that JCA and I-UEA lectins were not able to completely separate L. infantum, L. major and L. tropica. WGA lectin and PHA lectin can help in separating the species of Leishmania parasites.