n. 1. An infection caused by any of the flagellate protozoans of the genus Leishmania, transmitted to humans and animals by bloodsucking sandflies. 2. A disease, such as kala-azar or either of two clinically distinct ulcerative skin diseases, caused by flagellate protozoans of the genus Leishmania. [New Latin Leishmania, genus of protozoans (after Sir William Boog Leishman (1865-1926), British medical officer) + -IASIS.] |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.