kala-azar

views updated May 14 2018

kala-azar (visceral leishmaniasis, Dumdum fever) (kah-lă-ă-zar) n. a tropical disease caused by the parasitic protozoan Leishmania donovani, which is transmitted to humans by sandflies. Symptoms include enlargement and subsequent lesions of the liver and spleen; anaemia; a low leucocyte count; weight loss; and irregular fevers.