Photodynamic therapy for American cutaneous leishmaniasis: The efficacy of methylene blue in hamsters experimentally infected with Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis

[Display omitted] . ► PDT promoted a decrease in the thickness of infected footpad in experimental ACL. ► PDT promoted reduction in the parasitic load in experimental ACL. ► MB+LED in ACL by Leishmania amazonensis shows a strong photodynamic effect. ► PDT using MB+LED is very promising in ACL caused by Leishmania amazonensis. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) using Methylene Blue (MB) as the photosensitizing compound and a Light-Emitting Diode (LED) in American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL). Hamsters were experimentally infected with Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis. After the development of the lesions in the footpad, the animals were treated with MB three times a week for 3months. Ten minutes after each application of MB, the lesions were irradiated with LED for 1h. The lesions were evaluated weekly by the measurement of the hamster footpad thickness. At the end of the treatment the parasitic load was quantified in the regional lymph node of the hamsters. The treatment promoted a decrease in the thickness of infected footpad (P=0.0001) and reduction in the parasitic load in the regional lymph node (P=0.0007) of the animals from group treated with MB+LED. PDT using MB+LED in ACL caused by L. amazonensis shows a strong photodynamic effect. This therapy is very promising, once it is an inexpensive system and the own patient can apply it in their wound and in their house without the need of technical assistance.