Leishmania /Leish·ma·nia/ (lēsh-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).
Leishmania
Leishmania [lēsh-ma´ne-ah]
Leish·man·i·a (l sh-m n - , -m n-)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. |
Leishmania
[lēshmā′nē·ə]
Etymology: William B. Leishman
a genus of protozoan parasites. These organisms are transmitted to humans by any of several species of sand flies.
Leishmania [lēsh-ma´ne-ah]
a genus of protozoa comprising parasites of worldwide distribution, several species of which are pathogenic for humans. All species are morphologically indistinguishable, and therefore the organisms have usually been assigned to species and subspecies according to their geographic origin, the clinical syndrome they produce, and their ecologic characteristics. They have also been separated based on their tendency to cause visceral, cutaneous, or mucocutaneous leishmaniasis. In some classifications, Leishmania is grouped in four complexes comprising species and subspecies: L. donovani, L. tropica, L. mexicana, and L. viannia.
Life cycle of Leishmania. From Mahon and Manuselis, 2000.
Leishmania brazilien´sis Leishmania viannia.
Leishmania donova´ni donova´ni a subspecies of the L. donovani complex causing the classic form of visceral leishmaniasis in India. It is transmitted by the sandfly Phlebotomus argentipes, with humans being the only major reservoir hosts. Called also L. donovani.
Leishmania ma´jor a species of the L. tropica complex, transmitted by Phlebotomus papatasi, causing the rural form of Old World cutaneous leishmaniasis. Called also L. tropica major.
Leishmania mexica´na a complex comprising the species and subspecies causing the New World form of cutaneous leishmaniasis in humans: L. m. mexicana, L. m. amazonensis, and L. pifanoi.
Leishmania tro´pica
1. a complex comprising the species causing the Old World form of cutaneous leishmaniasis: L. tropica, L. major, and L. aethiopica.
2. a species of the L. tropica complex causing the urban form of Old World cutaneous leishmaniasis. It is found in Iran, Iraq, and India, transmitted by Phlebotomus sergenti; and in southern France, Italy and certain Mediterranean islands, transmitted by P. papatasi. Human to human transmission may also occur.
Leishmania vian´nia a taxonomic complex comprising the subspecies that cause mucocutaneous leishmaniasis in its various forms; all of the subspecies develop in the midgut, foregut, and hindgut of their sandfly vectors. Formerly called L. braziliensis.
Leishmania
a genus of protozoan parasites transmitted by sandflies, which also act as intermediate hosts.
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.
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