Mechanisms of immunity to leishmaniasis. IV. Significance of lymphatic drainage from the site of infection.

The course of Leishmania tropica infection in BALB/c and B6D2 mice has been followed after injection of the parasite at different sites. The effect of interruption of lymphatic drainage from the inoculation site has also been examined. In both strains of mice, more severe disease resulted from infection induced in the shaved rump, as compared to infection in the footpad. The removal of the popliteal lymph node prior to footpad infection, caused a considerable exacerbation of the disease. Such increased severity and associated with an initial inhibition of the induction of delayed-type hypersensitivity and a delay in the emergence of acquired resistance. Lymph node removal did not however compromise the effector arm of the acquired immune response, nor prevent the eventual suppression of delayed hypersensitivity that has been shown to occur in the BALB/c, during leishmanial infection.