Multiplication of a Human Parasite ( <i>Leishmania donovani</i> ) in Phagolysosomes of Hamster Macrophages in Vitro

Abstract

Leishmania donovani, the etiological agent of human visceral leishmaniasis, was grown in hamster peritoneal macrophages in vitro. By electron microscopy, using a lysosomal marker, these parasitic protozoa were seen to multiply within host cell phagolysosomes. The survival mechanism of this intracellular parasite is based apparently upon resistance to macrophage lysosomal enzymic digestion.