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Updated: May 16, 2026

Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in the Dorsal Skin of Hamsters: a Useful Model for the Screening of Antileishmanial Drugs
Published on: April 21, 2012
Occupationally acquired american cutaneous leishmaniasis
Maria Edileuza Felinto de Brito1, Maria Sandra Andrade, Ericka Lima de Almeida
1Centro de Pesquisas Aggeu Magalhães, FIOCRUZ-PE, Campus da Universidade Federal de Pernambuco s/n, Cidade Universitária, 50.670-901 Recife, PE, Brazil ; Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco s/n, Cidade Universitária, 50.670-901 Recife, PE, Brazil.
Abstract:
WE REPORT TWO OCCUPATIONALLY ACQUIRED CASES OF AMERICAN CUTANEOUS LEISHMANIASIS (ACL): one accidental laboratory autoinoculation by contaminated needlestick while handling an ACL lesion sample, and one acquired during field studies on bird biology. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays of patient lesions were positive for Leishmania, subgenus Viannia. One isolate was obtained by culture (from patient 2 biopsy samples) and characterized as Leishmania (Viannia) naiffi through an indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) with species-specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and by multilocus enzyme electrophoresis (MLEE). Patients were successfully treated with N-methyl-glucamine. These two cases highlight the potential risks of laboratory and field work and the need to comply with strict biosafety procedures in daily routines. The swab collection method, coupled with PCR detection, has greatly improved ACL laboratory diagnosis.
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