It has been suggested that T lymphocytes expressing gamma delta T-cell receptors could play an important role in defence against some intracellular infectious pathogens. The present study was undertaken to characterize the occurrence and variable delta gene expression of T lymphocytes expressing the gamma delta T-cell receptor in oriental cutaneous leishmaniasis. Eleven cases of oriental cutaneous leishmaniasis were investigated by immunohistological analysis using an alkaline phosphatase-anti-alkaline phosphatase (APAAP) technique. In three cases, we observed an increased percentage of gamma delta T cells (about 20% of CD3+ cells). In these cases gamma delta T cells generally expressed the V delta 2 segment, and only rarely the V delta 1 gene product. V delta 2+ cells were predominantly localized in the dermis, and were virtually absent in the epidermal compartment. The rare gamma delta T cells observed in the epidermis were almost exclusively V delta 1+. This study demonstrates that an increase of gamma delta T cells may be found in oriental cutaneous leishmaniasis, although it is not a constant feature of the disease. The finding of a preferential expansion of the V delta 2 subset suggests that this subpopulation of gamma delta T cells might be selectively involved in the recognition of Leishmania antigens. The distinct compartmentalization of gamma delta T-cell subpopulations indicates that these subsets may recognize distinct sets of antigens.