Cutaneous leishmaniasis Leishmania is the causative agent of leishmaniasis, belongs to the class Protozoa, order Myida. Moves in the form of flagella. It parasitizes intracellularly in the cells of the human body, forming pear-shaped leishmanoid formations (leishmonads). It usually penetrates into the epithelial cells of the villi of the small intestine of humans or rodent animal hosts (ectoparasite), as well as into the skin and mucous membranes. It has been established that the host is ixodid ticks, where Leishmania develops under the skin in the form of schistosomidal cysts, parasitizing for 6 months. External transmission