632 



LEISHMANIOSIS 



cells and the process is repeated. The clusters of bodies some- 

 times seen in smears are probably held together by the remains 

 of ruptured phagocytes. In capillaries the endothelial cells after 

 phagocyting the bodies probably become detached from the 

 capillary wall, as they are often observed free in the lumen of 

 the vessel, this being well seen in the hepatic capillaries. 

 In the body generally the parasites are found in greatest 

 abundance in the spleen, liver, and bone marrow, and also in 



FIG. 173. Leishman-Donovan bodies from spleen smear, x 1000. 



mesenteric glands, especially in those draining one of the 

 intestinal ulcers ; less frequently they occur in the skin ulcers, 

 and in other parts of the body. Donovan described them as 

 occurring in the peripheral blood, especially within the leucocytes, 

 and this has been confirmed by other observers, though sometimes 

 prolonged search is necessary. 



In the body the parasite multiplies by simple fission, both 

 nuclei dividing amitotically, and two new individuals being 

 formed ; but sometimes a multiple division takes place, each 

 nucleus dividing several times within the protoplasm and a 

 corresponding number of new parasites resulting. 



