We have tried to demonstrate in this paper that visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis are a great public health problem in Brazil. In relation to visceral leishmaniasis, the recognition of new foci denotes the increasing spread of endemic areas, but the areas of highest importance are located mainly at the northeastern region. It calls attention to its suburban character in cities like São Luis, Teresina and Rio de Janeiro. L. longipalpis is the only vector known for the disease in domiciliary environment. The dog constitutes the main source for L.d. chagasi, while canids such as Dusicyon vetulus and Cerdocyon thous have epidemiological roles. Other vectors for this parasite remain yet as unknown in the enzootic and sylvatic cycles.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis have a distribution in almost all the States of Brazil and, at least, two epidemiological patterns exist. The first, corresponds to the classic form of man entering in contact with the agent in virgin forests, like the Amazonian forest and so, there is a permanent risk for epidemics. The second, refers to the occurrence of this disease in areas after forest devastation as in the State of São Paulo and in other southeastern States. There are three nosological entities for the cutaneous leishmaniasis in Brazil, their agents being L.m. amazonensis, L. guyanensis and L.b. braziliensis. Five sandfly species have been incriminated as the main vectors in the transmission of the disease in different localities. They are P. flaviscutellatus, P. umbratilis, P. welcomei, P. whitmani and P. intermedius. As for the main natural reservoir of cutaneous leishmaniasis, it remains unknown the one relative to L.b. braziliensis.