Unexpected co-detection of promastigote and amastigote Leishmania forms in a human cutaneous lesion: implications for leishmaniasis physiopathology and treatment.

Abstract

Cutaneous leishmaniasis pathogenicity depends on the survival and replication of the parasitic protozoa in the form of non-motile amastigotes inside macrophages. Here, we report the unprecedented observation of both Leishmania major amastigote and promastigote forms (the latter is normally detected only in the mid gut of the insect vector or in vitro culture) in a cutaneous lesion of a 6-year-old boy. This finding suggests that modifications of the skin lesion environment, such as maceration and changes in pH or temperature, could promote the in situ transformation of Leishmania amastigotes into promastigotes. This observation raises questions about the physiopathology of cutaneous leishmaniasis and the influence of micro-environmental changes on the efficiency of topical treatments.

• Authors: Najoua Haouas, Latifa Remadi, Dhekra Chaara, Najla Chargui, Radhia Dabghi, Henda Jbeniani, Hamouda Babba, Christophe Ravel
• Journal: Diagnostic microbiology and infectious disease (Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis) Vol. 81 Issue 1 Pg. 18-20 (Jan 2015) ISSN: 1879-0070 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 25312011 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Fusidic Acid
• Betamethasone

Topics

• Administration, Topical
• Betamethasone (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Child
• Fusidic Acid (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
• Leishmania major (pathogenicity, physiology)
• Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous (drug therapy, parasitology, pathology)
• Male
• Tunisia