A genus of very small bloodsucking sandflies of the subfamily Phlebotominae, family Psychodidae. [phlebo- + G. tomos, cutting]
- P. flaviscutellatus SYN: Lutzomyia flaviscutellata.
- P. papatasii transmitter of the virus of p. fever; also a vector of Leishmania tropica in the Mediterranean area.
- P. verrucarum a form found in Peru that transmits Bartonella organisms, the causal agent of Oroya fever.
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phle·bot·o·mus fli-'bät-ə-məs n
1) cap a genus of small bloodsucking sand flies (family Psychodidae) including one (P. papatasii) that is the carrier of sandfly fever and others suspected of carrying other human disease
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n.
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Phle·bot·o·mus (flə-botґə-məs) [phlebo- + Gr. tomos a cutting] a genus of small, bloodsucking sandflies of the family Psychodidae; many species are vectors of disease-causing organisms.Medical dictionary. 2011.