Cutaneous leishmaniasis--a case with persistent organisms after treatment in presence of normal immune response.

A Peace Corps volunteer in Senegal, West Africa contracted cutaneous leishmaniasis which had several noteworthy features. One of the three presenting cutaneous ulcers was associated with subcutaneous nodules and viable organisms were recovered from healing lesions after multiple courses of treatment, including amphotericin B. Yet, the patient was found to exhibit both humoral and cell mediated features of normal immunologic responsiveness. Ultimately, clinical and parasitological cure occurred. The patient's organism was found to produce lesions in the foot pads of mice.