kala-azar

ka·la-a·zar  (käl--zär)

n.

A chronic, often fatal disease occurring chiefly in Asia, caused by the protozoan parasite (Leishmania donovani) and characterized by irregular fever, enlargement of the spleen and liver, and emaciation.

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[Urdu kl zr : kl, black (from Sanskrit kla-; see Kali) + zr, disease (from Persian, from Middle Persian, pain, torment, from zrdan, zr-, to torment : -, to + -zr-, to make angry).]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

kala-azar - leishmaniasis of the viscera Assam fever, dumdum fever, visceral leishmaniasis kala azar, leishmaniasis, leishmaniosis - sores resulting from a tropical infection by protozoa of the genus Leishmania which are spread by sandflies