Temporal and spatial trends in the geographical distribution of 12,413 cases of American visceral leishmaniasis (AVL) and of 48,138 cases of American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) notified from 1985 to 1999 in the State of Bahia, Brazil, were analysed. The emergence of new endemic municipalities indicated an increasing trend for AVL and ACL. In the years 1985, 1990 and 1996, AVL was endemic in 7% (n = 31), 18% (n = 73) and 30% (n = 123), and ACL was endemic in 13% (n = 54), 27% (n = 112) and 34% (n = 140), of 415 municipalities. New trends were identified, and the relation with the ecoepidemiology of both diseases is discussed.