Answer to Case 443

Answer:LeishmaniaamastigotesThis case shows the characteristic morphology of amastigotes within a macrophage. The arrow below highlights an amastigote in which the nucleus and kinetoplast can both be seen.One of the most important teaching points about this case is that the patient acquired infection in Italy - a country that many physicians (especially in the United States) do not realize is endemic forLeishmania infantum. Of note,Leishmania infantumis nearly identical toL. chagasi,a pathogen found in the Americas, and some consider them to be the same organism (in which caseL. infantumwould have preference).
Source: Creepy Dreadful Wonderful Parasites - Category: Parasitology Source Type: blogs