visceral leishmaniasis

English

Noun

visceral leishmaniasis (usually uncountable, plural visceral leishmaniases)

1. (pathology) The most severe form of leishmaniasis, a disease caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania, in which the parasite migrates to the internal organs such as the liver, spleen, and bone marrow, often resulting in the death of the host.

   Synonyms: (initialism) VL, kala-azar, Dum Dum fever, black fever

   Coordinate terms: cutaneous leishmaniasis, mucocutaneous leishmaniasis