Cutaneous leishmaniasis

Abstract

Introduction. The most common form of leishmaniasis
is cutaneous leishmaniasis. It presents with cutaneous lesions
of the unprotected parts of the skin which leave scars later
on. The causative agents are protozoae from the Leishmania
species , and there are more than 20 of them. Clinical presentation
and therapy depend on the type of leishmaniasis. The
vectors of leishmaniosis are flies from the Phlebotomus species,
and the source of infection is people and animals.
Case report. A patient used to work in Iraq. Due to
skin lesions that persisted for three months and suspicion of
cutaneous leishmaniosis, he was sent by an infectious disease
specialist from General hospital, Pancevo to the Public
Health Institute of Serbia - PHIS. Lesions were localized on
the hands, in the form of plaques with central ulcerations.
There were similar cases among his colleagues. Microscopic
examination of the skin samples, Giemza stained, showed
intracellular amastigote Leishmania. The patient spent two
months in the Clinic for infectious and tropical diseases. He
was treated with fluconazole and liposomal amphotericin B
and discharged with crusts on his hands.
Clinical presentation, epidemiologic data, and microbiological
diagnosis are very important for the diagnosis of
cutaneous leishmaniasis.