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Disseminated American cutaneous leishmaniasis
R Bonfante-Garrido1, S Barroeta, M A de Alejos
1Investigation Unit of Medical Parasitology, Deanship of Medicine, Universidad Centroccidental Lisandro Alvarado, Barquisimeto, Venezuela.
International Journal of Dermatology
|August 1, 1996
Summary
Disseminated American cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania venezuelensis presents diverse skin lesions. Some patients with nodular lesions and negative skin tests showed resistance to antimonial treatment.
Area of Science:
- Medical Parasitology
- Infectious Diseases
- Dermatology
Background:
- Investigating cutaneous leishmaniasis in western Venezuela revealed four cases of disseminated American cutaneous leishmaniasis.
- Three cases originated from Lara State and one from Portuguesa State, highlighting regional occurrences.
Observation:
- Patients presented with disseminated papular, ulcerous, nodular, and ulceronodular skin lesions.
- Microscopic examination of skin lesions showed abundant amastigotes within histiocytes.
- The Montenegro skin test was negative in two of the four patients.
Findings:
- Isolates were identified as Leishmania venezuelensis through molecular techniques.
- Histopathology revealed numerous vacuolated histiocytes filled with amastigotes in skin lesions.
- One patient responded to N-methyl glucamine antimonate treatment, while others were resistant.
Implications:
- Leishmania venezuelensis is identified as a causative agent of diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis.
- Patients with nodular lesions and negative Montenegro skin tests exhibited resistance to pentavalent antimonial therapy.
- This suggests potential challenges in treating certain forms of leishmaniasis in the region.