Leishmanial blepharo-conjunctivitis.

We describe a case of blepharo-conjunctivitis due to Leishmania donovani in association with nodules of post kala azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) on the chin. The diagnosis was confirmed by isolation of the parasite in culture. Direct implantation of the parasite by contaminated fingers from the chin nodules to the eye is suggested as the mode of spread. The role of cell-mediated immunity, (CMI) in restricting the skin lesions on the chin for 37 years at the same site, was suspected. This is only the second report of ocular involvement in L. donovani infection from India.