The histopathological diagnosis of donovanosis

The role of histopathology in the diagnosis of donovanosis was assessed in 42 patients. There was heavy infiltration of the dermis with plasma and mononuclear cells but with few lymphocytes and neutrophils. The epidermis contained focal collections of polymorphoneuclear leucocytes. Endothelial proliferation and dilation of dermal blood vessels was striking. Intracellular and extracellular Donovan bodies were shown in Giemsa stained sections from 40 patients. Pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia was found in biopsy specimens from a few patients.