Hamsters were inoculated with IO7 Leishmania (Leishmania) chagasi amastigotes in the hind footpads and killed at 7, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75 and 90 days after infection. We observed mononuclear inflammatory infiltrates with many parasites on the 7th and 15th days of infection. On the 30th day there was early granuloma formation. After 45 days the lesion was characterized by well defined epithelioid granuloma with multinuclear giant cells whose cytoplasm showed Schaumann bodies. Non-particulate antigenic material was present in the macrophage cytoplasm and between the lamellae of the Schaumann bodies. Granuloma formation has an important role for the control of infection at the inoculation site. The results indicate that dissemination of the infection must occur in the first 45 days, before granuloma formation has taken place.