Accordingly, CD8+ T cells are protective when they produce IFN‐γ but promote pathology when they are cytolytic.31 In addition, there is strong evidence that CD8+ T cells are essential for the control of primary and secondary infection in visceral leishmaniasis.15 Nevertheless, the presence of these cells has also been associated with tissue damage in mucocutaneous leishmaniasis20 as well as during lesion progression in CL patients.10 Herein, we revealed the presence of CD8+T cells producing cytolytic molecules, GrB and Grly, but also IFN‐γ within ZCL lesions due to L. major. This evidence concerns the gene IFNG and visceral leishmaniasis.