[Similarity of the causative agent of visceral leishmaniasis from Iraq and Leishmania tropica based on the molecular parameters of kinetoplast DNA].

Restriction analysis demonstrated that the cleavage pattern of kinetoplast DNA of visceral leishmaniasis causative agent from Iraq was similar to that of the anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis causative agent Leishmania tropica, and differed from that of the kinetoplast DNA of Leishmania infantum and L. donovani, typical visceral leishmaniasis causative agents. Similarity was established both for maxi- and minicycle molecules of the kinetoplast DNA. Evolutionary relation between L. tropica and the causative agent of visceral leishmaniasis from Iraq is suggested.