leishmaniasis

Pronunciation: lēsh′măn-ī′ă-sis

Definition: Infection with a species of Leishmania resulting in a clinically ill-defined group of diseases traditionally divided into four major types: visceral leishmaniasis (kala azar); Old World cutaneous leishmaniasis; New World cutaneous leishmaniasis; and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis. Each is clinically and geographically distinct and each has been newly subdivided into clinical and epidemiologic categories. Transmission is by various sandfly species of the genus Phlebotomus or Lutzomyia.

See: tropic diseases, under disease

Synonym(s): leishmaniosis

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