Cutaneous leishmaniasis

Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a vector-borne infectious disease of the integumentary system caused by obligate intracellular protozoan parasites of the genus *Leishmania*, transmitted to humans through the bites of infected female phlebotomine sand flies

Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a vector-borne infectious disease of the integumentary system caused by obligate intracellular protozoan parasites of the genus *Leishmania*, transmitted to humans through the bites of infected female phlebotomine sand flies

Pathophysiologically, the parasites infect dermal macrophages and reticuloendothelial cells, initiating a local granulomatous inflammatory cascade that develops over weeks to months

Pathophysiologically, the parasites infect dermal macrophages and reticuloendothelial cells, initiating a local granulomatous inflammatory cascade that develops over weeks to months Defining clinical features begin as localized erythematous papules or nodules that typically advance into painless, crusted ulcerative plaques with raised borders and central depressions, which may heal slowly with permanent, disfiguring scars

Defining clinical features begin as localized erythematous papules or nodules that typically advance into painless, crusted ulcerative plaques with raised borders and central depressions, which may heal slowly with permanent, disfiguring scars The condition primarily impacts populations living in or traveling to endemic tropical, subtropical, and Mediterranean regions

The condition primarily impacts populations living in or traveling to endemic tropical, subtropical, and Mediterranean regions