leishmaniasis

noun

leish·​man·​i·​a·​sis ˌlēsh-mə-ˈnī-ə-səs 

plural leishmaniases ˌlēsh-mə-ˈnī-ə-ˌsēz 

: a parasitic disease chiefly of tropical and subtropical regions that is caused by a flagellate protozoan (genus Leishmania) which is transmitted by sand flies (genus Phlebotomus and Lutzomyia) and infects the macrophages of mammalian hosts

Worldwide, the leishmaniases are the third most important vector-borne disease (after malaria and sleeping sickness), accounting for an estimated 1.98 million disability-adjusted life-years and 57,000 deaths annually.

—Richard Reithinger et al.

see also cutaneous leishmaniasis, visceral leishmaniasis

Examples of leishmaniasis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Most leishmaniasis cases have occurred in people who have traveled internationally to tropical or subtropical countries.11 Symptoms to Watch For: One or more painless skin sores that develop within a few weeks of being bitten by a sand fly, along with lymph node swelling12 5. —Cristina Mutchler, Verywell Health, 2 Sep. 2025

For some, like Plasmodium (which causes malaria) and Leishmania (which causes leishmaniasis), their reputation is justified due to their devastating impacts on human health. —Hannah Richter, Smithsonian Magazine, 31 July 2024

Malaria too was likely endemic in ancient Egypt and Nubia, alongside other diseases such as leishmaniasis and schistosomiasis. —Sean Mowbray, Discover Magazine, 7 Mar. 2024

The team engineered yeast chimeras that had apoptotic enzymes from across the eukaryotic world: from mustard plants, slime molds, humans and the parasite that causes leishmaniasis. —Quanta Magazine, 6 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

New Latin

First Known Use

1907, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing leishmaniasis

• cutaneous leishmaniasis
• visceral leishmaniasis

Rhymes for leishmaniasis

• amebiasis
• candidiasis
• filariasis
• mydriasis
• pityriasis
• archdiocese
• psoriasis
• cholelithiasis
• elephantiasis
• nephrolithiasis
• schistosomiasis
• urolithiasis

Medical Definition

leishmaniasis

noun

leish·​man·​i·​a·​sis ˌlēsh-mə-ˈnī-ə-səs 

plural leishmaniases -ˌsēz 

: a parasitic disease chiefly of tropical and subtropical regions that occurs in cutaneous and systemic forms and is caused by a flagellate protozoan of the genus Leishmania which is transmitted by sand flies (genus Phlebotomus and Lutzomyia) and infects the macrophages of mammalian hosts

Worldwide, the leishmaniases are the third most important vector-borne disease (after malaria and sleeping sickness), accounting for an estimated 1.98 million disability-adjusted life-years and 57,000 deaths annually.

—Richard Reithinger et al., Emerging Infectious Diseases

Leishmaniasis, caused by various species of Leishmania protozoa, can lethally enlarge the spleen and liver.

—C. Brownlee, Science News

… the sandfly that transmits leishmaniases (a group of parasitic diseases) breeds in piles of refuse or in pit latrines …

—Akin L. Mabogunje, Environment

see also cutaneous leishmaniasis, mucocutaneous leishmaniasis, visceral leishmaniasis