Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum is the etiological agent of both American visceral
leishmaniasis (AVL) and non-ulcerated cutaneous leishmaniasis (NUCL) in Honduras. Although AVL
is the most severe clinical form of infection, recent studies have shown that human immune response
to parasite infection can result in a clinical-immunological spectrum. The overall prevalence rate of
infection and clinical-immunological profiles of the L. (L.) infantum infection in Amapala municipality,
South Honduras was determined. We examined 576 individuals with diagnosis based on combined
ELISA (IgG/IgM) and DTH assays. We also used genus-specific kDNA PCR and Hsp70 PCR-RFLP
for NUCL cases. Clinical evaluation found 82% asymptomatic and 18% symptomatic individuals.
All symptomatic cases (n = 104) showing NUCL were positive for parasites. We identified L. (L.)
infantum species in 100% of the skin lesion scrapings and in 90% of the blood samples from NUCL cases
studied. A total of 320 asymptomatic individuals were exposed (ELISA+ and/or DTH+), providing an
overall L. (L.) infantum prevalence of 73.6%. Clinical, parasitological, and immunological evaluations
suggest seven infection profiles, three asymptomatic and four symptomatic. This represents the
first report on clinical and immunological features of human L. (L.) infantum-infection in Amapala
municipality, Honduras.
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