leishmania
noun
leish·man·ia
lēsh-ˈma-nē-ə 
plural leishmanias or leishmania
: any of a genus (Leishmania) of parasitic, flagellate protozoans that cause leishmaniasis, are transmitted by the bite of sand flies (genus Phlebotomus and Lutzomyia), and occur in an motile, extracellular form within the gut of sand flies and a nonmotile, intracellular form within the macrophages of mammalian hosts
broadly
: a protozoan resembling the leishmanias that is included in the family (Trypanosomatidae) to which they belong
Dictionary Entries Near leishmania
Cite this Entry
“Leishmania.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/leishmania. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
leishmania
noun
leish·man·ia
lēsh-ˈman-ē-ə
-ˈmān-
-ˈmān-
1
Leishmania
: a genus of parasitic, flagellate protozoans of the family Trypanosomatidae that are the causative agents of leishmaniasis, are transmitted by sand flies (genera Phlebotomus and Lutzomyia), and occur as motile, extracellular promastigotes within the gut of sand flies and transform into nonmotile, intracellular amastigotes within the macrophages of mammalian hosts
2
plural leishmanias or leishmaniae
: any protozoan of the genus Leishmania
broadly
: any protozoan of the family Trypanosomatidae having the typical intracellular form of a leishmania
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share