Neutrophils are the first cells to migrate to the site of tissue damage. Recent work has addressed Leishmania survival and entry into macrophages through the infection of neutrophils that are recruited as a normal response to sandfly bites. New findings indicate that Leishmania is able to escape from neutrophils and 'silently' enter macrophages, a modification of the 'Trojan horse' model. Neutrophil depletion impaired disease progression, indicating an important role for neutrophils in leishmaniasis.