Spontaneous cure of American cutaneous leishmaniasis due to Leishmania naiffi in two Dutch infantry soldiers

Abstract

We report two Dutch infantry soldiers who acquired American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) during military jungle training in Surinam. The lesions had existed for 3 and 5 months, respectively, before the soldiers presented for treatment. The lesions occurred on the head and right thigh, and were small, uncomplicated and symptomless. PCR for Leishmania revealed Leishmania naiffi in both patients. No treatment was given, and the lesions in both men healed spontaneously within 4 and 6 weeks, respectively, after presentation to our clinic. CL is one of the important 'tropical' diseases in The Netherlands, primarily due to the increasing numbers of cases in travellers and in military personnel serving overseas. ACL due to L. naiffi is thought to be a mild expression of CL with a self-limiting nature. Lesions seem to be single, mostly small, ulcerating and usually appear on the hands, arms and legs. No case of mucocutaneous leishmaniasis has yet been attributed to this parasite.