Granuloma inguinale (donovanosis) in South Africa

Granuloma inguinale is a chronic specific infection of the genitalia of both sexes. It is endemic in many parts of the world, including the Caribbean, the southern USA, India, New Guinea and tropical and subtropical Africa. Apart from a single patient diagnosed clinically, no cases of the disease have previously been reported in the RSA, and some have thought that it did not occur here. A series of 8 cases diagnosed on the Witwatersrand over the past 21 months is presented, suggesting that the disease is endemic in this country and has until now been overlooked by clinicians and pathologists.