Leishmania hertigi sp. n., from the Tropical Porcupine, Coendou rothschildi Thomas

A skin-inhabiting species of Leishmania found in Panama in the tropical porcupine, Coendou rothschildi, is considered new and described as Leishmania hertigi sp. n. L. hertigi is differentiated from other species of Leishmania found in mammals mainly by the nature and course of the infection in its natural host. It is apparently harmless to its host, in which it produces a long-lasting infection, showing a well-established host-parasite relationship. There is a complete absence of any gross skin alteration due to the infection, although the parasite frequently is found in skin over the whole body. L. hertigi seems to be host-specific.