A 38-year-old lady visits the office to have a skin lesion evaluated. It began as a pink papule on her right arm and has grown in size over the course of many weeks. The lesion is not itchy or unpleasant, and it has not been linked to fever or other systemic symptoms. The patient recently returned from a trip to Costa Rica. During her trip, she slept at a beach resort and went on a jungle trek. The results of the skin examination are displayed below. A biopsy of the lesion reveals round-oval protozoa with rod-shaped kinetoplasts that are intracellular. Which of the following is most likely to have contributed to this patient's present condition?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Eductional Objective: Leishmania species are obligate intracellular protozoa that mature in macrophages and are distinguished by the presence of rod-shaped kinetoplasts on biopsy. Infected sand flies transfer them to people, causing the clinical condition of cutaneous leishmaniasis, which is characterized by a persistent, pinkish papule that grows into a nodule or plaque.

A 38-Year-Old Lady Visits the Office to Have a Skin