Histopathological features of skin lesions in patients affected by non-ulcerated or atypical cutaneous leishmaniasis in Honduras, Central America

Author(s)

Sandoval Pacheco, Carmen Maria ^[1] ; Araujo Flores, Gabriela Venicia ^[1] ; Favero Ferreira, Aurea ^[2] ; Sosa Ochoa, Wilfredo ^{[1, 3]} ; Ribeiro da Matta, Vania Lucia ^[2] ; Valeriano, Concepcion Zuniga ^[4] ; Pereira Corbett, Carlos Eduardo ^[1] ; Dalastra Laurenti, Marcia ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Med Sch, Lab Pathol Infect Dis, Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Clin Hosp HCFMUSP, Med Sch, Lab Pathol Infect Dis, LIM50, Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[3] Natl Autonomous Univ Honduras, Microbiol Res Inst, Tegucigalpa - Honduras

^[4] Univ Sch Hosp, Dept Hlth Surveillance, Tegucigalpa - Honduras

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: International Journal of Experimental Pathology; v. 99, n. 5, p. 249-257, OCT 2018.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

In Honduras visceral leishmaniasis and non-ulcerated or atypical cutaneous leishmaniasis (NUCL) are caused by the species Leishmania (L.) infantum chagasi. NUCL is the most common clinical form in the southern regions of the country, mainly affecting the young. In view of the lack of knowledge about the pathogenesis of the disease pattern caused by L. (L) infantum chagasi in individuals affected by NUCL, the aim of the present study was to describe in detail the histopathological features of the skin lesion caused by the parasite. Biopsies from human NUCL lesions with a positive parasitological diagnosis were collected and processed using standard histological techniques. Paraffin sections stained by haematoxylin and eosin were used to examine the histopathological alterations seen in the skin. The lesions varied between 3 and 5 mm, and the majority of the patients (60%) had a single lesion. Lesions were more frequently seen in females (65%), with an average age of 33.4 years. Microscopically, the skin lesions were characterized by mononuclear inflammatory infiltrate in the dermis composed of lymphocytes, macrophages and a few plasma cells. The intensity of the infiltration varied from discrete to intense. In both cases, the parasitic infection was discrete. Granulomas were present in 60% of cases and were associated with intense inflammation. The data revealed by the histopathological alterations in the skin of individuals affected by NUCL suggest activation of a cellular immune response that potentially controls parasite spreading. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 15/01154-7 - Non-ulcerated or atypical cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania infantum chagasi in Amapala municipality, Valle, Honduras: immune-histological characterization of the skin lesions
• Grantee: Carmen Maria Sandoval Pacheco
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• FAPESP's process: 14/50315-0 - Leishmaniasis in Latin America: an advanced perspective on immunopathogenetic factors of cutaneous and visceral infection, immunomodulators of the sandflies vector saliva and immunogenic exo-antigens of Leishmania (L.) infantum chagasi as vaccine candidates
• Grantee: Marcia Dalastra Laurenti
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants