Sri Lankan cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), once considered sporadic, is fairly widespread in some parts of the country. Identification of 5 isolates from 4 CL patients by enzyme analysis during 2002 showed that they were all Leishmania donovani zymodeme MON-37, the parasite which also causes visceral leishmaniasis in India and East Africa.

All cases of CM were due to larvae of Chrysomya species. The commonest was C. bezziana. C. megacephala larvae causing CM have been reported for the first time in Sri Lanka. The foot was the site of predilection. Dermatitis, psychiatric illness, leprosy, diabetes, and mental subnormality were some contributory factors. Topically instilled mineral turpentine, followed by manual removal of maggots, was effective in most cases. The plant extracts tested in vitro were ineffective. As C. bezziana is an obligatory parasite capable of penetrating deeply, the importance of preventive measures is emphasized.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis is an established disease in Sri Lanka. The majority of cases have been reported from the North-Central Province, with the southern parts of the country considered less affected. However, during 2004, when the services of a dermatologist were available, a considerable number of patients were referred from the Southern Province, which formed the basis for this study. The clinical pattern, detailed geographical distribution within the Southern Province and periodicity of the cases were studied over a period of 12 months. Of the 113 patients diagnosed, the highest number was within the 10-19 years age group. Most patients were from densely populated rural areas around Matara, a large town within this province. There was a notable increase in the number of cases presenting during February-March and August-September, which are periods following monsoonal rains. Exposed areas of the skin were commonly affected, with the majority of patients having single lesions. Females and males were equally affected. This is in contrast to our previous findings in the North-Central Province where the majority of patients were male soldiers with multiple lesions.

The densities of human erythrocytes infected with P. vivax obtained from infected patients were determined by isopycnic centrifugation in continuous gradients of Percoll. The approximate densities of erythrocytes infected with rings were 1.086 to 1.1, trophozoites (amoeboid stages) 1.053 to 1.086, schizonts and gametocytes 1.053 to 1.056 and of the other cellular elements of blood, uninfected erythrocytes, 1.086 to 1.1, polymorphonuclear leucocytes 1.073 to 1.086 and mononuclear cells 1.062 to 1.073 g/ml. Based on these values, a one-step gradient of 47% Percoll was devised to separate erythrocytes infected with the more mature stages (trophozoites, schizonts and gametocytes) from uninfected erythrocytes. By this method it is possible to obtain parasitaemias of 88% to 98% from blood with starting parasitaemias of less than 0.7%. This method is therefore being routinely used for immunological, biochemical and molecular biological studies on P. vivax.

Novy, McNeal and Nicolle (NNN) medium and Evans' modified Tobie's medium are two conventional media for the isolation of Leishmania parasites in in-vitro cultures. Both are biphasic, with a solid layer of blood agar, and are normally prepared in glass test-tubes. In Sri Lanka at least, a monophasic microcapillary culture, based solely on RPMI 1640 medium supplemented with foetal calf serum, has been found simpler, more economical and more sensitive, for the isolation of L. donovani from skin lesions, than the use of Evans' modified Tobie's medium.

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Introduction Human dirofilariasis is a zoonotic infection caused by the filarial worm, Dirofilaria (Nochtiella) repens, whose primary host is the dog. This infection is on the increase over the past decade in Sri Lanka and the prevalence of canine dirofilariasis in the country is also believed to be high. We present here a study on public awareness of dirofilariasis and the prevalence of this infection in dogs in Negombo, an urban area that has a high domestic canine population.Objective To assess the awareness of dirofilariasis infection among residents and study the prevalence of this infection in domestic dogs in Negombo. Methods A descriptive cross-sectional study within the city of Negombo during September and November 2003 using a pre-tested, interviewer-administered questionnaire with cluster sampling was done. Two hundred seventy adults, including 132 dog owners, were included in the study. Data analysis was done using the EpiInfo programme.The prevalence of canine dirofilariasis was studied in a group of 65 dogs over the age of 1 year. They were selected

MT and LAWS, the main ingredient of MT, were effective in killing Chrysomya larvae. Essential oil obtained from betel leaves also showed a dose-dependent larvicidal effect on Chrysomya larvae. This natural product may be effective in the treatment of wound myiasis.