Abstract: A monkey (Maczca rhesus) was inoculated subcutaneously with 2 Leishmania isolates (MRHO/CN/88/KXG-2 and MRHO/CN/90/KXG-56) from Karamay big gerbils (Rhombomys opimus) into the forehead and cheek,36 days later ulceration with a diameter of 0.2cm occurred at 2 sites.The lesions persisted for 60 and 95 days respectively and then healed spontaneously.However,Leishmania could be detected from the dermal tissue for more than one year.When MRHO/CN/88/KXG-2 isolate was inoculated into the forearm or ear of the monkey,no ulceration but swelling was revealed at the sites of inoculation.Leishmania was found to be latent in the subcutaneous tissue of the forearm for more than 103 days.The monkey was dissected one year after inoculation,no evidence of visceral involvement was noted.Another isolate (MRHO/CN/87/KXG-12) was inoculated subcutaneously into the forearm of 2 healthy volunteers.One of them developed cutaneous leishmaniasis.An ulcer with a diameter of 0.4cm and a nodule as large as 0.9×1.5cm around the ulcer occurred at the inoculation site 128 days later.Leishmania parasites were found harboring in macrophages of the dermis and in the epithelial cells of hair follicles.The results indicate that Leishmania parasite of the Karamay big gerbils is pathogenic to monkey and man,in addition to the fact that human cutaneous leishmeniasis and gerbil's Leishmania co-exist in Karamay,it seems that big gerbil is a potential reservoir of human cutaneous leishmaniasis in this area.