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Leishmaniasis in the genital area

Leishmaniose na região genital

Abstracts

Two patients from the gold mines of Bolivar State, Venezuela, presenting cutaneous leishmaniasis in the genital region, an unusual location, are described. The first patient showed an ulcerated lesion of the glans penis. Leishmanin skin test was positive. A biopsy specimen revealed a granulomatous infiltrate containing Leishmania parasites. In the second patient, Leishmanin skin test was positive, HIV and VDRL were negative. Leishmania parasites were present in a biopsy of an ulcerated lesion in the scrotum, with an indurated base, infiltrative borders with an yellowish exudate. Patients were treated with meglumine antimoniate and the lesions healed.

Mucocutaneous leishmaniasis; Genital ulcers; Venezuela


São descritos os casos de dois pacientes procedentes do Estado de Bolívar, Venezuela. Ambos apresentavam leishmaniose cutânea na região genital, uma rara localização desta parasitose. O diagnóstico foi confirmado em ambos os casos pela histopatologia que demonstrou presença de amastigotas. Após tratamento com antimoniato de meglumina, as lesões cicatrizaram.


CASE REPORT

LEISHMANIASIS IN THE GENITAL AREA

Ismery CABELLO(1,2 (1 ) Servicio de Dermatologia, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario Ruiz y Páez, Ciudad Bolívar, Venezuela. (2 ) Escuela de Medicina, Núcleo Bolívar, Universidad de Oriente, Ciudad Bolívar, Venezuela. ), Alejandro CARABALLO(2 (1 ) Servicio de Dermatologia, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario Ruiz y Páez, Ciudad Bolívar, Venezuela. (2 ) Escuela de Medicina, Núcleo Bolívar, Universidad de Oriente, Ciudad Bolívar, Venezuela. ) & Yaneth MILLÁN(1 (1 ) Servicio de Dermatologia, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario Ruiz y Páez, Ciudad Bolívar, Venezuela. (2 ) Escuela de Medicina, Núcleo Bolívar, Universidad de Oriente, Ciudad Bolívar, Venezuela. )

SUMMARY

Two patients from the gold mines of Bolivar State, Venezuela, presenting cutaneous leishmaniasis in the genital region, an unusual location, are described. The first patient showed an ulcerated lesion of the glans penis. Leishmanin skin test was positive. A biopsy specimen revealed a granulomatous infiltrate containing Leishmania parasites. In the second patient, Leishmanin skin test was positive, HIV and VDRL were negative. Leishmania parasites were present in a biopsy of an ulcerated lesion in the scrotum, with an indurated base, infiltrative borders with an yellowish exudate. Patients were treated with meglumine antimoniate and the lesions healed.

KEYWORDS: Mucocutaneous leishmaniasis; Genital ulcers; Venezuela.

INTRODUCTION

Cutaneous Leishmaniasis is an infectious disease caused by protozoa of the gender Leishmania, transmitted by stings of female insects of the gender Phlebotomus in the Old World and Lutzomyia in the New World. More than twenty species of Leishmania pathogenic for humans and other mammals have been identified worldwide12.

The clinical manifestations of leishmaniasis depend on the interaction between the characteristic virulence of the species and the host's immune response11.

In America, cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by several species of the complex brasiliensis and mexicana are suggested5,7,8. We present 2 cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis in the genital area, a very unusual localization.

CASE REPORTS

Case 1: An 18-year-old gold mine worker from Parapapoy, Piar Municipality, Bolivar State, Venezuela, presented with a three-months history of an ulcerative lesion over the glans penis. The patient was treated with Penicillin intramuscularly (2.4 million IU).

The ulcer measured 1 cm in diameter, with an indurated base and raised, infiltrative borders (Fig. 1). No regional lymph nodes were noted. VDRL (Venereal Disease Research Laboratories) and FTA-ABS (Fluorescent Treponemal Antibody Absorption) was negative. Montenegro's intradermal test was positive: indurated papule, 26 mm diameter. Histopathological study showed ulceration of epidermis and a diffuse inflammatory infiltrate in the dermis composed of lymphocytes, histiocytes, plasma cells and giant cells with granuloma formation and presence of Leishmania amastigotes (Fig. 2). The patient was treated with meglumine antimoniate intramuscular (20 mg of Sb+/kg/day) during three weeks; with fully healed lesion at the end of therapy.



Case 2: A man of 38 years from gold mines of Ikabaru, Gran Sabana Municipality of the Bolivar State, Venezuela, was suffering from a tumor in the scrotum for 5 months. The clinical diagnosis was squamous cell carcinoma. At physical examination, an ulcerated tumor of 5 cm x 3 cm in diameter, with an indurated base and raised, infiltrative borders with an yellowish exudate was noted (Fig. 3). Leishmanin skin test was positive, HIV (enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent assay [ELISA]), and VDRL were negative. Histology showed pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia, a necrotic area and ulceration of epidermis and a diffuse inflammatory infiltrate in the dermis composed of lymphocytes, plasma cells, polymorphonuclear cells and vacuolated histiocytes with the presence of Leishmania amastigotes (Fig. 4). The patient was treated with meglumine antimoniate intramuscular (20 mg of Sb+/kg/day) three weeks; with complete cicatrization of the lesion.



DISCUSSION

In the last years, an increment of the number of cutaneous leishmaniasis in the Bolivar State, Venezuela, have been observed6.

The lesions caused by cutaneous leishmaniasis are generally located in exposed areas of the body. In our cases 70% are in the extremities2.

In the two presented cases, the genital area localization claims for accurate differential diagnosis. In the first patient, the clinical characteristics of the lesion, and will be better and patient's age suggested primary syphilis, settling down specific treatment without observing improvement. In the second case, a diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma was considered. After biopsy and histopathological study, the diagnosis of leishmaniasis was confirmed. Both patients informed the habit of sleeping undressed and outside the house.

There are few published cases of leishmaniasis located in the genital area, settling down in most of them that the lesions are due to direct inoculation of the parasite4,9,13.

Some authors suggest that the genital localization can result of the possible blood dissemination in those patients10. The tropism of leishmania for testicle have been demonstrated in experimental studies with L. braziliensis1. Histological studies of 137 cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis demonstrate the existence of species braziliensis and mexicana and that both species are major causes of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Venezuela2,3.

The reported cases presented an unusual localization of cutaneous leishmaniasis, which should be outlined mainly in those patients coming from endemic areas, being the key to practice necessary complementary exams to confirm the diagnosis.

RESUMO

Leishmaniose na região genital

São descritos os casos de dois pacientes procedentes do Estado de Bolívar, Venezuela. Ambos apresentavam leishmaniose cutânea na região genital, uma rara localização desta parasitose. O diagnóstico foi confirmado em ambos os casos pela histopatologia que demonstrou presença de amastigotas. Após tratamento com antimoniato de meglumina, as lesões cicatrizaram.

Received: 20 December 2000

Accepted: 26 October 2001

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  • 2. CABELLO, I. - Leishmaniasis cutánea en el Estado Bolivar. Estudio clínico-histopatológico. Venezuela, 1989. (Trabajo de Ascenso para Profesor Agregado - Universidad de Oriente).
  • 3. CABELLO, I. - Identificacion in situ de amastigotas en leishmaniasis cutánea, mediante anticuerpos monoclonales. Venezuela, 1993. (Trabajo de Ascenso para Profesor Asociado Universidad de Oriente).
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  • 5. CUPOLILLO, E.; GRIMALDI Jr., G. & MOMEM, H. - A general classification of new world Leishmania using numerical zymotaxonomy. Amer. J. trop. Med. Hyg., 50: 296-311, 1994.
  • 6. GONZÁLEZ, R.; DEVERA, R.; MADRID, C. & ZGHAYER, S. - Evaluación de un brote de leishmaniasis tegumentaria americana en una comunidad rural del Estado Bolivar, Venezuela. Rev. Soc. bras. Med. trop., 33: 31-37, 2000.
  • 7. GRIMALDI Jr., G.; TESH, R.B. & McMAHON-PRATT, D. - A review of the geographic distribution and epidemiology of leishmaniasis in the new world. Amer J. trop. Med. Hyg., 41: 687-725, 1989.
  • 8. GRIMALDI Jr., G. & TESH, R.B. - Leishmaniases in the new world: current concepts and implications for future research. Clin. Microbiol. Rev., 6: 230-250, 1993.
  • 9. GRUNWALD, M.H.; AMICHAI, B. & TRAU, H. - Cutaneous leishmaniasis on an unusual site: the glans penis. Brit. J. Urol., 82: 928, 1998.
  • 10. MARSDEN, P.D. - Mucosal leishmaniasis ("espundia", Escomel, 1911). Trans. roy. Soc. trop. Med. Hyg., 80: 859-876, 1986.
  • 11. PEARSON, R.D. & SOUSA, A.Q. - Clinical spectrum of leishmaniasis. Clin. infect. Dis., 22: 1-13, 1996.
  • 12. RIDLEY, D.S. - A histological classification of cutaneous leishmaniasis and its geographical expression. Trans. roy. Soc. trop. Med. Hyg., 74: 515-521, 1980.
  • 13. SCHUBACH, A.; CUZZI-MAYA, T.; GONÇALVES-COSTA, S.C.; PIRMEZ, C. & OLIVEIRA NETO, M.P. - Leishmaniasis of glans penis. J. Europ. Acad. Derm. vener., 10: 226-228, 1998.
  • (1
    ) Servicio de Dermatologia, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario Ruiz y Páez, Ciudad Bolívar, Venezuela.
    (2
    ) Escuela de Medicina, Núcleo Bolívar, Universidad de Oriente, Ciudad Bolívar, Venezuela.
  • Publication Dates

    • Publication in this collection
      15 Oct 2002
    • Date of issue
      Apr 2002

    History

    • Received
      20 Dec 2000
    • Accepted
      26 Oct 2001
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