The outcome of subcutaneous infection with L. major NIH 173 was evaluated in a series of recombinant inbred and congenic strains, as well as F2 progeny generated from a genetic linkage testing stock carrying the visible markers Ra, Os, and Pt. The disease parameters monitored were the incidence of open or necrotic lesions and footpad depths of infected feet, and the incidence and number of amastigotes in livers following infection. Regions of mouse chromosomes 2, 4, 7, 8, 12 and 15 were excluded from linkage to a gene (Scl-1) involved in the susceptibility of inbred strains of mice to cutaneous infection with L. major NIH 173 by F2 and congenic strain analyses. Strain distribution patterns generated for Scl-1 in the CXB and CXS recombinant inbred strains suggested linkage to the distal end of mouse Chromosome 11.