The <i>L. donovani</i> CL-SL (CL) and VL-SL (VL) strains cause different pathology in BALB/c mice.

<p>For visceral infection, BALB/c mice (5 mice/group) were infected in the tail vein with 5×10⁷ stationary phase promastigotes and 4 weeks after infection, mice were examined for spleen weight and parasite burden in the liver (Leishman Donovan Units: LDU) and spleen (parasite numbers) as determined by limiting dilution of spleen homogenates. The VL-SL strain (VL) infection in mice resulted in splenomegaly (<b>Panel A</b>) and high levels of infection in the liver (<b>Panel B</b>) and spleen (<b>Panel C</b>) compared to the CL-SL strain (CL) that caused negligible infection levels in the liver and spleen. Values plus standard error are shown. <b>Panel D</b>, cutaneous infections, BALB/c mice (5 mice/group) were injected subcutaneously in the rear footpad with 5×10⁶ stationary phase promastigotes and footpad lesion development was measured over 11 weeks.