Fig 1.
Sites of sample collection within the cutaneous ulcer.
(A) Macroscopic aspect of an ulcerated lesion. (B) Schematic representation of a typical CL ulcer. The sites where samples were collected are indicated: border (1), base (2), and center (3) of the ulcer. Figure adapted from: Zvietcovich et al. [32].
Fig 2.
Parasite load levels in clinical samples according to skin lesion site.
Data shown are the quantified paired parasite load results (8 specimens per lesion) corresponding to 28 patients. (A) Comparison of biopsy specimens taken from the ulcer border, base, and center (P<0.0001, Friedman test with Dunn’s post hoc test). (B) Comparison of dermal scraping specimens taken from the ulcer border, base, and center (P = 0.0002, Friedman test with Dunn’s post hoc test). The asterisks shown in A and B indicate statistically significant differences between corresponding groups according to Dunn’s post hoc test. (C) Comparison of cytology brush specimens taken from the ulcer base and center (P = 0.07, Wilcoxon signed rank test).
Table 1.
Leishmania parasite load levels per skin lesion site and sampling method.
Table 2.
Causative Leishmania species and pre-treatment parasite load in tissue.