title: An imported case of cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania (Leishmania) donovani in Japan.
abstract: Leishmaniasis is a major world health problem, and 12 million people are estimated to be infected in 88 countries. There have been few reports of leishmaniasis in Japan and all were of foreign origin; therefore diagnosis is difficult for Japanese physicians. There are 21 different pathogenic Leishmania species, and identification is obtained by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Here we report an imported case of leishmaniasis by Leishmania (Leishmania) donovani infection from Sri Lanka. L. (L.) donovani usually causes visceral leishmaniasis, but in this case, the patient manifested cutaneous leishmaniasis. The identification of Leishmania species by PCR and investigation of the patient's background such as nationality and disease endemicity are important for diagnosis and treatment. This is the first report of cutaneous leishmaniasis by L. (L.) donovani in Japan.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Fukuoka University Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Kotaro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: Masakazu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takahara
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: Minoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oshiro
authors.forename: Kenzo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Uezato
authors.forename: Shinichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Imafuku
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D007893:Leishmania donovani / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000469:parasitology*; D008297:Male
keywords: Leishmania (Leishmania) donovani; Sri Lanka; cutaneous leishmaniasis