Cutaneous leishmaniasis. Ultrastructural study of 3 cases.

Ultrastructure study of specimens taken from 3 patients with cutaneous Leishmaniasis showed parasites within macrophages. None were found in extracellular locations. Within the macrophages cytoplasm, parasites were located either lying free in the cytoplasm or inside intracytoplasmic vacuoles. Parasites in various stages of degeneration were found both lying free in the cytoplasm or within vacuoles. The parasite-macrophage relationship and the mechanism by which the host reacts toward the parasite are discussed.