The isolation of Leishmania major from Phlebotomus (Paraphlebotomus) caucasicus, in Isfahan province, Islamic Republic of Iran.

As part of a general survey of leishmaniasis and sandflies in the focus of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL) at Borkhar, a rural district north of the city of Isfahan, central Iran, Phlebotomus (Paraphlebotomus) caucasicus Marzinowsky from gerbil and jird burrows were found naturally infected with Leishmania major, zymodeme MON-26 (= LON-1). This is the first characterized isolate of L. major from a sandfly vector in Iran.