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.