| a chronic, usually fatal disease occurring in tropical areas of Asia and the Western Hemisphere, characterized by irregular fever, enlargement of the spleen, anemia, and emaciation, caused by the protozoan Leishmania donovani. |

kala-azar ka·la-a·zar (kä'lə-ə-zär')
n.
See visceral leishmaniasis.
visceral leishmaniasis n.
A chronic, often fatal disease occurring chiefly in Asia, caused by a protozoan parasite (Leishmania donovani) and characterized by irregular fever, enlargement of the spleen and liver, and emaciation. Also called kala-azar.