[Advances and perspectives in American cutaneous leishmaniasis]

The advances and perspectives in American (mucocutaneous) leishmaniasis are presented under the following topics: 1. Epidemiology in Latin America, particularly in Brazil. 2. Parameters for taxonomic identification of species and subspecies of the genus leishmania, which belong to L. mexicana and L. braziliensis complexes: biologic behaviour in hamster, in culture, in animal reservoir, clinical aspects, vectors, electronic microscopy, electrophoretic mobility of isoenzymes, radiorespirometry, DNA characterization, monoclonal antibodies, other immunological aspects and genetics. 3. Diagnosis by intradermal test, indirect immunofluorescence, ELISA, culture and animal inoculation. 4. Therapeutics and prevention by vaccination.