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
Richard Reithinger et al.Examples of leishmaniasis in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Malaria kills more than 600,000 people a year, and leishmaniasis kills around 30,000.
—Hannah Richter, Smithsonian Magazine, 31 July 2024
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
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
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
See all Example Sentences for leishmaniasis 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Hannah Richter, Smithsonian Magazine, 31 July 2024
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
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
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
See all Example Sentences for leishmaniasis
Dictionary Entries Near leishmaniasis
Cite this Entry
“Leishmaniasis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/leishmaniasis. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical 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
Richard Reithinger et al., Emerging Infectious DiseasesLeishmaniasis, caused by various species of Leishmania protozoa, can lethally enlarge the spleen and liver.—C. Brownlee, Science News
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
Akin L. Mabogunje, EnvironmentLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share