Leishmania

Leishmania /Leish·ma·nia/ (lesh-ma´ne-ah) a genus of parasitic protozoa, including several species pathogenic for humans. In some classifications, organisms are placed in four complexes comprising species and subspecies: L. donova´ni (causing visceral leishmaniasis), L. tro´pica (causing the Old World form of cutaneous leishmaniasis), L. mexica´na (causing the New World form of cutaneous leishmaniasis), and L. vian´nia (causing mucocutaneous leishmaniasis).

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Leish·man·i·a (lsh-mn-, -mn-)

n.

A genus of flagellate protozoa, several species of which cause leishmanisis; all species are indistinguishable morphologically but may be separated by their serological reactions, by their geographic distribution, by their developmental patterns in their sandfly hosts, and by their clinical manifestations of leishmaniasis.

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Leishmania

a genus of protozoan parasites transmitted by sandflies, which also act as intermediate hosts.

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Leishmania adleri

found in lizards and other mammals.

Leishmania aethiopica

reservoir hosts are hyraxes.

Leishmania brasiliensis brasiliensis

reservoir hosts are forest rodents. Causes mucocutaneous leishmaniasis in humans.

Leishmania brasiliensis guyanensis

dogs are infected; in humans the disease is the cutaneous form in most cases.

Leishmania brasiliensis panamensis

reservoirs are sloths, kinkajous and many other forest animals.

Leishmania chagasi

causes visceral leishmaniasis in humans and dogs.

Leishmania donovani

causes visceral leishmaniasis in humans and in carnivores.

Leishmania enriettii

causes cutaneous leishmaniasis in guinea pigs.

Leishmania infantum

causes visceral leishmaniasis in dogs and other carnivores. In humans it is children who are most commonly affected.

Leishmania major

dogs and bush mammals are reservoir hosts. In humans this is the cause of oriental sore, the important cutaneous form of the disease.

Leishmania mexicana amazonensis

causes cutaneous leishmaniasis in humans. Rodents and bush animals are reservoir hosts.

Leishmania mexicana mexicana

reservoir hosts are rodents; causes cutaneous leishmaniasis in humans.

Leishmania mexicana pifanoi

causes chronic cutaneous leishmaniasis in humans.

Leishmania peruviana

causes cutaneous leishmaniasis in humans; probably infests dogs.

Leishmania tropica

causes cutaneous leishmaniasis in humans and dogs.