Leishmania-like protozoan associated with dermatitis in cattle

A Leishmania sp.-like organism was found in the skin of a naturally infected 8-mo-old Red Dane female calf (Bos taurus) from Zimbabwe. There were multiple alopecic nodules, particularly on the face and udder. The nodules were up to 5 cm in diameter and larger ones were ulcerated and hemorrhagic. Numerous Leishmania-like amastigotes were seen in the skin lesions. Ultrastructurally, the organisms were oval to elongated (2-2.5 microm long), had a nucleus, a kinetoplast, and a flagellum. To our knowledge, this is the first report of Leishmania-like organisms found in an animal from Zimbabwe.