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kala azar

(kä′lä ä zär′)

an infectious disease, a type of leishmaniasis, that occurs in subtropical or tropical areas, caused by a protozoan parasite (Leishmania donovani) transmitted by sand flies (esp. genus Phlebotomus), and characterized by an enlarged spleen and liver, irregular fever, anemia, etc.

also kala-azar

noun

Origin: Hindi kālā-āzār, lit., black disease

See kala azar in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

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.

Origin:

Origin: Urdu kālā āzār

Origin: : kālā, black (from Sanskrit kāla-; see Kali)

Origin: + āzār, disease (from Persian, from Middle Persian, pain, torment, from āzārdan, āzār-, to torment : ā-, to + -zār-, to make angry)