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Cutaneous leishmaniasis

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.