A clinico-pathological study of cutaneous leishmaniasis in British troops from Belize

Thirty-four cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis contracted by British soldiers in Belize were studied. Pre- and post-treatment biopsies were taken from all patients. The range of histological appearances is described and the value of histological examination (including Giemsa staining and immunohistochemistry), cytological preparations and microbiological culture in diagnosis and clinical management assessed. Histology and culture were found to be complementary techniques in reaching a positive diagnosis, whilst cytological preparations were of no additional value. Histological examination of post-treatment biopsies merely confirmed the clinical impression of healing or non-healing whilst culture identified viable organisms in apparently healed lesions, which were subsequently re-treated.