Dissemination of Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis

• Published in: Journal of comparative pathology Vol. 115; no. 3; pp. 311 - 316
• Main Authors: Almeida, M.C., Cuba-Cuba, C.A., Moraes, M.A.P., Miles, M.A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Elsevier Ltd 01.10.1996; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Cricetinae; Experimental protozoal diseases and models; Female; Infectious diseases; Leishmania braziliensis; Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous - pathology; Leishmaniasis, Visceral - pathology; Liver - pathology; Male; Medical sciences; Parasitic diseases; Protozoal diseases; Recurrence; Skin - pathology; Kinetoplastida; Protozoa; Host parasite relation; Protozoal disease; Mesocricetus auratus; Rodentia; Leishmania brasiliensis; Kala azar; Leishmaniasis; Parasitosis; Metastasis; Infection; Vertebrata; Experimental disease; Mammalia; Animal; Dissemination; Skin; Hamster
• ISSN: 0021-9975; 1532-3129
• DOI: 10.1016/S0021-9975(96)80088-0

Destructive human mucocutaneous leishmaniasis may appear many yearsafter the primary cutaneous infection with Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis. Hamsters ( Mesocricetus auratus) were infected with metacyclic L. braziliensis promastigotes. It was found that secondary metastatic visceral lesions could arise from a primary cutaneous lesion, or secondary cutaneous lesions from a primary visceral lesion. Parasites in the viscera were shown to be viable, multiplying and capable of metastasis to either secondary visceral or cutaneous sites. The finding of an early metastasis in the wall of a small cutaneous vessel indicates that dissemination can occur by the haematogenous route. Slow growing organisms in viscera may thus be a source for late metastasis to mucocutaneous sites or for systemic relapse after immunosuppression.