Leishmania infecting man and wild animals in Saudi Arabia. 3. Leishmaniasis in Psammomys obesus Cretzschmar in Al-Ahsa oasis.

Zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL) is hyperenzootic in Psammomys obesus in Al-Ahsa oasis in Saudi Arabia: 93% of 202 specimens of this rodent examined had signs of the infection. Leishmania major and L. arabica were isolated from both normal ear skin as well as from ears with slight to severe lesions. L. major was the predominant species and gave rise to characteristic lesions that consisted of swelling, rounding of the edges, hyperpigmentation, ulceration, necrosis and, in advanced cases, sloughing and loss of ear tissue.