Leishmania alderi (a lizard parasite that is non-pathogenic to humans) can easily be grown in culture to further research into the neglected tropical disease Leishmaniasis and to investigate the usage of an antigen detection diagnostic test – BIOL322 Tropical Diseases practical.
Leishmaniasis is caused by transmission of the protozoan Leishmania parasites via the bite of infected female phlebotomine sandflies.
References:
- https://www.researchgate.net/publication/13966200_Leishmania_adleri_a_lizard_parasite_expresses_structurally_similar_glycoinositolphospholipids_to_mammalian_Leishmania
- http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs375/en/