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Definition of Old world leishmaniasis
1. Noun. Leishmaniasis of the skin; characterized by ulcerative skin lesions.
Generic synonyms: Kala Azar, Leishmaniasis, Leishmaniosis
Medical Definition of Old world leishmaniasis
1. Infection with promastigotes (leptomonads) of Leishmania tropica and of leishmaniasis major inoculated into the skin by the bite of an infected sandfly, Phlebotomus (commonly P. Papatasi); it is endemic in parts of Asia Minor, northern Africa, and India, and is known by innumerable names, each indicating its locality (e.g., Aleppo, Baghdad, Delhi, or Jericho boil; Aden ulcer; Biskra button); the ulcer begins as a papule that enlarges to a nodule and then breaks down into an ulcer. Two distinctive clinical and epidemiological diseases are recognised, the more common and widespread zoonotic rural disease with a moist acute form, caused by L. Major, with reservoir rodent hosts; and an urban, anthroponotic, dry, chronic form of leishmaniasis caused by leishmaniasis tropica, without a reservoir host, and now largely controlled. See: zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis, anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis. Synonym: juccuya, Old World leishmaniasis, tropical sore. (05 Mar 2000)