Linfadenopatias na leishmaniose tegumentar americana: considerações sobre dois casos

Abstract

Two patients, with cervical lymphadenopathies and a presumptive diagnosis of lymphoma or scrofula, were submitted to biopsies of the affected lymph nodes. Unexpectedly, the histological picture revealed a necrotic-granulomatous reaction and the presence of leishmania (amastigotes) in some vacuolated macrophages. The patients were from different endemic areas of leishmaniasis in Brazil, and had no perceptible cutaneous or mucosal lesions. Later, however, one of them developed such lesions, probably as an effect of a treatment for toxoplasmosis. These findings support the idea that the agents of the disease, once in the host organism, would invade the organs of the phagocytic-mononuclear system, there remaining for a long time, maybe for the rest of the host life. Eventually, under the action of several factors, that could modify the host resistance, the parasites migrate to the skin or the mucosal membranes, causing secondary or reactivating lesions.

Tegumentary and visceral leishmaniases in Brazil: emerging anthropozoonosis and possibilities for their control

“…Based on the manifestations and possibilities of ATL clinical evolution, from the site of the phlebotomine's bite the following groups and respective forms (Convit et al, 1972;Marzochi et al, 1980;Marsden, 1986;Costa et al, 1986;Ryan et al, 1990;Marzochi, 1992;Barral et al, 1992;Moraes et al, 1993;Marzochi & Marzochi, 1994), can be defined:…”

Alterations induced in the ileum of mice upon inoculation with different species of Leishmania: a preliminary study

“…The different forms of leishmaniasis occur from migration of the parasite from the skin to other sites far from the inoculated area via lymphatic or hematogeneous dissemination 4 . The parasite is also able to invade and remain in organs associated with the phagocytemononuclear cell system 5 .…”