Six Cercopithecus aethiops monkeys, 4 Theropithecus gelada baboons and 2 Papio anubis baboons were infected using Leishmania aethiopica isolates originating either from localized (LCL) or diffuse (DCL) cutaneous leishmaniasis patients. The history of lesions in 4 C. aethiops monkeys infected by LCL strains mimicked the process in human LCL patients. Infection of 2 C. aethiops monkeys using a DCL strain resulted in localized, non-ulcerative, self-healing nodular lesions. Such lesions were also observed in 2 T. gelada baboons infected by LCL strains. Active lesions and healing in C. aethiops and T. gelada, after infection by LCL stains, were accompanied by positive DTH and immunity to challenge by LCL or DCL strains.