A rare infectious disease caused by any of a number of parasitic Leishmania species which is transmitted through the bite of an infected sandfly. Infection can cause any of three different manifestations: cutaneous leishmaniasis, mucosal leishmaniasis and visceral leishmaniasis. Cutaneous leishmaniasis tends to be limited to skin lesions that can take weeks or years to heal, often leaving a scar. See also Cutaneous leishmaniasis