title: Cutaneous leishmaniasis in the dorsal skin of hamsters: a useful model for the screening of antileishmanial drugs.
abstract: Traditionally, hamsters are experimentally inoculated in the snout or the footpad. However in these sites an ulcer not always occurs, measurement of lesion size is a hard procedure and animals show difficulty to eat, breathe and move because of the lesion. In order to optimize the hamster model for cutaneous leishmaniasis, young adult male and female golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) were injected intradermally at the dorsal skin with 1 to 1.5 x l0(7) promastigotes of Leishmania species and progression of subsequent lesions were evaluated for up to 16 weeks post infection. The golden hamster was selected because it is considered the adequate bio-model to evaluate drugs against Leishmania  as they are susceptible to infection by different species. Cutaneous infection of hamsters results in chronic but controlled lesions, and a clinical evolution with signs similar to those observed in humans. Therefore, the establishment of the extent of infection by measuring the size of the lesion according to the area of indurations and ulcers is feasible. This approach has proven its versatility and easy management during inoculation, follow up and characterization of typical lesions (ulcers), application of treatments through different ways and obtaining of clinical samples after different treatments. By using this method the quality of animal life regarding locomotion, search for food and water, play and social activities is also preserved.
authors.affiliation: Program for the Study and Control of Tropical Diseases -PECET-School of Medicine, University of Antioquia.
authors.forename: Sara M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Robledo
authors.forename: Lina M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Carrillo
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Daza
authors.forename: Adriana M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Restrepo
authors.forename: Diana L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Muñoz
authors.forename: Jairo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tobón
authors.forename: Javier D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Murillo
authors.forename: Anderson
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: López
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ríos
authors.forename: Carol V
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Mesa
authors.forename: Yulieth A
authors.initials: YA
authors.lastname: Upegui
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Valencia-Tobón
authors.forename: Karina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mondragón-Shem
authors.forename: Berardo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
authors.forename: Iván D
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Vélez
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006224:Cricetinae; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D007891:Leishmania / Q000254:growth & development; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000469:parasitology; D008297:Male; D008647:Mesocricetus
chemical_list: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents