n 1  cap  :  a genus of kinetoplastid flagellate protozoans of the family Trypanosomatidae that are parasitic in the tissues of vertebrates, are transmitted by sand flies (genera Phlebotomus and Lutzomyia), occur parasitically as a minute ovoid or spherical nonflagellated body with a definite kinetoplast and usu. an intracellular axoneme, and include one (L. donovani) causing kala-azar and another (L. tropica) causing oriental sore  2  :  any protozoan of the genus Leishmania : broadly  :  any protozoan of the family Trypanosomatidae having the typical intracellular form of a leishmania leish*man*ial adj 
 
   
 
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