Leishmaniasis

**Semantic type:** Disease or Syndrome

**Definition:** A parasitic infection caused by protozoa of the genus Leishmania. It is transmitted to humans via the bite of sandflies. There are three main forms of the disease: cutaneous, mucocutaneous, and visceral leishmaniasis. Cutaneous leishmaniasis causes skin ulcers; mucocutaneous leishmaniasis causes destructive lesions of the mucous membranes of the nose, mouth, and throat; visceral leishmaniasis is the most severe form of the disease and is manifested with anemia, weight loss, hepatomegaly and splenomegaly.