Post-kala-azar dermal leishmanaisis (PKDL) in Sudan is associated with elevated interferon-γ (IFN-γ). To study interferon-γ pathways in PKDL, we genotyped 80 trios from the Masalit ethnic group for polymorphisms at −470 ins/delTT, −270T/C, −56T/C and +95T/C in IFNGR1 and at −179G/A and +874T/A in IFNG. No associations occurred at IFNG. Global association with haplotypes comprising all four markers at IFNGR1 (χ210df=21.97, P=0.015) was observed, associated with a significant (χ21df=4.54, P=0.033) bias in transmission of the haplotype insTT T T T and less (χ21df=5.59, P=0.018) than expected transmission of insTT C C C. When compared with data on malaria associations from Gambia, the results suggest a complex pattern of haplotypic variation at the IFNGR1 promoter locus associated with different infectious disease in African populations that reflect the complex roles of IFN-γ in parasite killing versus inflammation and pathogenesis.Genes and Immunity (2007) 8, 75–78. doi:10.1038/sj.gene.6364353; published online 30 November 2006 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]