Leishmaniasis is a vector borne disease caused by protozoa of the genus
Leishmania. Human leishmaniasis is not endemic in Australia though imported cases
are regularly encountered. This study aimed to provide an update on the molecular
epidemiology of imported leishmaniasis in Australia. Of a total of 206 biopsies
and bone marrow specimens submitted to St Vincent's Hospital Sydney for
leishmaniasis diagnosis by PCR, 55 were found to be positive for Leishmania DNA. 
All PCR products were subjected to restriction fragment length polymorphism
analysis for identification of the causative species. Five Leishmania
species/species complexes were identified with Leishmania tropica being the most 
common (30/55). Travel or prior residence in a Leishmania endemic region was the 
most common route of acquisition with ~47% of patients having lived in or
travelled to Afghanistan. Cutaneous leishmaniasis was the most common
manifestation (94%) with only 3 cases of visceral leishmaniasis and no cases of
mucocutaneous leishmaniasis encountered. This report indicates that imported
leishmaniasis is becoming increasingly common in Australia due to an increase in 
global travel and immigration. As such, Australian clinicians must be made aware 
of this trend and consider leishmaniasis in patients with suspicious symptoms and
a history of travel in endemic areas.