[5] The ulcers ultimately progress to destruction of internal and external tissue, with extensive leakage of mucus and blood from the highly vascular lesions.

Later, the nodules burst, creating open, fleshy red ulcers with rolled edges that have a tendency to bleed on contact.

[8] The diagnosis is based on the patient's sexual history and on physical examination revealing a painless, "beefy-red ulcer" with a characteristic rolled edge of granulation tissue.

Donovan bodies are rod-shaped, oval organisms that can be seen in the cytoplasm of mononuclear phagocytes or histiocytes in tissue samples from patients with granuloma inguinale.

[5] A granuloma is a nodular type of inflammatory reaction, and inguinale refers to the inguinal region, which is commonly involved in this infection.

However, polymerase chain reaction techniques using a colorimetric detection system showed a 99% similarity with other species in the genus Klebsiella.

[18] The disease is effectively treated with antibiotics, therefore, developed countries have a very low incidence of donovanosis; about 100 cases are reported each year in the United States.

However, sexual contact with individuals in endemic regions dramatically increases the risk of contracting the disease.

[citation needed] Sporadic surgical ressection of the lesions has been used in extensive perineal fistulae refractory to pharmacological intervention.