Experimental chronic (45-day-old) skin lesion in hamster hind foot induced by
Leishmania (
Viannia)
lainsoni
infection showed the presence of promastigote forms in the tissue, inside parasitophorous vacuoles, as assessed by transmission electron microscopy. Experimental in vitro interaction (24 and 48 h) between
Leishmania (V.) lainsoni and J774-G8 macrophage cells also demonstrated the same profile. This morphological aspect is unusual, since in this parasite genus only amastigote forms have been described as the resistant and obligate intracellular forms.
