An endemic disease that is characterized by the development of single or multiple localized lesions on exposed areas of skin that typically ulcerate. The disease has been divided into Old and New World forms. Old World leishmaniasis is separated into three distinct types according to epidemiology and clinical manifestations and is caused by species of the L. tropica and L. aethiopica complexes as well as by species of the L. major genus. New World leishmaniasis, also called American leishmaniasis, occurs in South and Central America and is caused by species of the L. mexicana or L. braziliensis complexes.
Entry Term(s)
Leishmaniasis, American
Leishmaniasis, New World
Leishmaniasis, Old World
Oriental Sore
NLM Classification #
WR 350
Previous Indexing
Leishmaniasis (1966-1991)
Public MeSH Note
1992; see LEISHMANIASIS 1979-1991; for ORIENTAL SORE see LEISHMANIASIS 1979-1991
History Note
1992; use LEISHMANIASIS 1979-1991; for ORIENTAL SORE use LEISHMANIASIS 1979-1991, use LEISHMANIASIS 1963-78
An endemic disease that is characterized by the development of single or multiple localized lesions on exposed areas of skin that typically ulcerate. The disease has been divided into Old and New World forms. Old World leishmaniasis is separated into three distinct types according to epidemiology and clinical manifestations and is caused by species of the L. tropica and L. aethiopica complexes as well as by species of the L. major genus. New World leishmaniasis, also called American leishmaniasis, occurs in South and Central America and is caused by species of the L. mexicana or L. braziliensis complexes.