leishmania

American  

[leesh-man-ee-uh, -mey-nee-uh, lahysh-] / liʃˈmæn i ə, -ˈmeɪ ni ə, laɪʃ- /

noun

1. any parasitic flagellate protozoan of the genus Leishmania, occurring in vertebrates in an oval or spherical, nonflagellate form, and in invertebrates in an elongated, flagellated form.

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leishmania British  

/ liːʃˈmeɪnɪə /

noun

1. any parasitic flagellate protozoan of the genus Leishmania : infects humans and animals and causes diseases ranging from skin lesions to potentially fatal organ damage

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Other Word Forms

• leishmanial adjective
• leishmanic adjective
• leishmanioid adjective

Etymology

Origin of leishmania

< New Latin (1903), after William Boog Leishman (1865–1926), Scottish bacteriologist; -ia

Example Sentences

The new study says nothing about possible reservoirs, but parasitologists have long known that leishmania parasites exist in Southern Plains wood rats, says Molyneux, who was not involved in the study.

From Scientific American • Oct. 19, 2023

"Treating a patient with leishmania drugs never eliminates every parasite from the body -- they persist for the rest of a patient's life," Satoskar said.

From Science Daily • Sep. 29, 2023

Preston and his fellow seekers confront nigh-impenetrable vegetation, man-swallowing mud pits, jaguars, lethal vipers, and a multitude of biting insects carrying a medley of parasites, among them the flesh-eating leishmania.

From Washington Post • Mar. 22, 2017

The patient’s boyfriend was also shown to have been infected with the same species of leishmania.

From New York Times • Dec. 5, 2014

It is caused by the leishmania parasite and transmitted via the bite of an infected sand fly.

From BBC • Jan. 30, 2012