NEW-WORLD CUTANEOUS LEISHMANIASIS IMPORTED INTO AUSTRALIA

A case of cutaneous leishmaniasis in a traveller from Belize, Central America is reported. Leishmaniasis presents rarely in Australia and de lays in diagnosis and treatment often occur. A high index of suspicion in a patient who has returned from an endemic region is required, Sub sequent confirmation of a diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis is best achieved by demonstration of the organism on skin biopsy, aspiration or smear. The histology is variable and depends on geographic, parasit e species and host factors. Speciation of New World disease as either Leishmania braziliensis or Leishmania mexicana is important to determi ne the risk of later development of mucosal disease, which normally on ly occurs with L. braziliensis infection, and for optimal treatment. S everal different modes of treatment have been suggested, but antimonia ls, such as sodium stibogluconate, remain the treatment of choice in N ew World cutaneous leishmaniasis.