Definition: A parasitic hemoflagellate of the subgenus Leishmania leishmania that infects man and animals including rodents. The Leishmania mexicana complex causes both cutaneous (LEISHMANIASIS, CUTANEOUS) and diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis (LEISHMANIASIS, DIFFUSE CUTANEOUS) and includes the subspecies amazonensis, garnhami, mexicana, pifanoi, and venezuelensis. L. m. mexicana causes chiclero ulcer, a form of cutaneous leishmaniasis (LEISHMANIASIS, CUTANEOUS) in the New World. The sandfly, Lutzomyia, appears to be the vector.
infection: coord IM with LEISHMANIASIS, CUTANEOUS (IM) or LEISHMANIASIS, DIFFUSE CUTANEOUS (IM); for antigens, coord with ANTIGENS, PROTOZOAN, for antibodies, coord with ANTIBODIES, PROTOZOAN
