IMMUNOPATHOLOGY OF AMERICAN CUTANEOUS LEISHMANIASIS

American mucocutaneous leishmaniasis is a granulomatous disease clinic ally characterized by ulcerated skin lesions that can regress spontane ously. A small percentage of the affected individuals can however deve lop a severe destruction of the nasal, oral, pharyngeal and/or larynge al mucous membranes many years after the healing of the primary lesion . The human immune response to the infection and the possible mechanis ms underlying the pathogenesis of the disease, determining either the self-healing or the development of chronic and destructive mucosal les ions, are discussed.