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.