Cutaneous leishmaniasis in outpatients of dermatology and venereology clinic, Benha Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Egypt.

Zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL) is a disease of an ancient history and more or less encountered in several Egyptian Governorates. However, no data is available concerning CL. in Qualyobia Governorate. In the present study, a number of 10920 patients who attended the outpatient's clinic of Dermatology and Venereology, during the year 1991, were clinically examined for any manifestations suggesting CL. Lesion when present was examined by Giemsa stained smear and N.N.N. medium culture. Serum samples were separated from blood of suspected CL. cases for detection of antileishmanial antibodies by the indirect haemagglutination tests. The results showed that six patients had parasitologically proven lesions and that IHAT was less specific in diagnosing CL. It was concluded that CL exists as endogenous cases in Qualyobia Governorate and that the presence of CL and VL within nearly the same focus is a point of medical importance.