Introduced leishmaniasis on Taiwan.

Leishmaniasis is not known to be indigenous to Taiwan but a number of imported cases of visceral as well as post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis have been seen. Only two autochthonous cases of cutaneous-subcutaneous diseases have been documented in aborigines but no cases of visceral leishmaniasis have been reported. Although a significant number of imported cases of leishmaniasis have been seen, the disease has apparently not been established on the island.

Autochthonous cutaneous-subcutaneous leishmaniasis on Taiwan.

Leishmaniasis was not considered to be endemic on Taiwan, but during and after World War II a number of cases of kala-azar and post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis have been seen. The majority of the cases occurred in soldiers (Japanese and Chinese) who acquired infections on the China mainland. This paper presents the first reports of autochthonous cutaneous-subcutaneous leishmaniasis in 2 native-born aborigine Taiwanese.

Brugia malayi in Kresek, West Java, Indonesia: the effect of environmental changes of filarial endemicity.

A survey was conducted in Kresek, West Java, Indonesia and 813 persons from six villages examined for filariasis. Only eight had microfilaremia and one male person had elephantiasis. Comparing results obtained approximately ten years earlier and the present survey, there was a marked decrease in the microfilarial rate in Kresek, especially in Penameng, during the interim. There was no drug treatment, insecticide application or any dramatic population movement. The development of a well-organized irrigation system and the conversion of the swamps into rice-fields resulted in a decrease of breeding sites for Mansonia mosquitoes and subsequently a decrease in filariasis.

Botryomycosis as an obstructive hepatic disease.

Botryomycosis is a disorder caused by certain nonfilamentous bacteria that produce lesions that resemble actinomycosis. We describe a previously well, young man who initially had apparent hepatitis due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa which spread hematogenously to involve both lungs. He was treated successfully with antibiotics.

Ascaris lumbricoides--a reminder.

A Vietnamese refugee was admitted to the hospital with signs and symptoms of an acute condition within the abdomen. Examination ultimately led to the roentgenographic diagnosis of an Ascaris lumbricoides infestation. The patient recovered after medical treatment with intravenous fluids and nasogastric suction, followed by piperazine citrate administration. This ubiquitous parasite has the potential for causing many serious abdominal complications. An awareness of this disease is particularly timely, in view of the recent influx of nearly 150,000 Indo-Chinese into North America.