visceral leishmaniasis

noun

plural visceral leishmaniases

: a severe form of leishmaniasis that is marked by fever, weight loss, progressive anemia, leukopenia, and enlargement of the spleen and liver, is caused by a parasitic protozoan (as Leishmania donovani) which proliferates in macrophages of the liver, spleen, and bone marrow, and is typically fatal if untreated

The disease's deadly form, visceral leishmaniasis, caused when the parasite takes up residence in the liver, spleen and bone marrow, kills about 40,000 people a year worldwide.

—Rachel Nuwer

called also kala-azar

compare cutaneous leishmaniasis

Word History

First Known Use

1914, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

visceral leishmaniasis

noun

: a severe form of leishmaniasis that is marked by fever, weight loss, progressive anemia, leukopenia, and enlargement of the spleen and liver, is caused by a parasitic protozoan of the genus Leishmania (as L. donovani) which proliferates in macrophages of the liver, spleen, and bone marrow, and is typically fatal if untreated

Visceral leishmaniasis is responsible for overwhelming fatal epidemics …

—Michael A. Miles, Science

In visceral leishmaniasis, in contrast to cutaneous and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis, the cutaneous entry of the parasite infrequently elicits a skin lesion.

—David J. Wyler and Anthony R. Mattia, The New England Journal of Medicine

called also kala-azar

compare cutaneous leishmaniasis