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
    Hypernyms: leishmaniasis < disease < condition
    Coordinate terms: cutaneous leishmaniasis, mucocutaneous leishmaniasis
    • 2026 February 12, Wendy Ruderman, “Traveling to Southern Europe? Here's what to know about a deadly parasite active there”, in The Philadelphia Inquirer‎[1], archived from the original on 12 February 2026:
      The parasite, leishmania, is transmitted by the bite of an infected sandfly. It can cause an infection called "visceral leishmaniasis," which is treatable when caught early but often fatal if not. […] Are you planning a vacation to Spain, Italy, France, Greece, or another country along the Mediterranean? If so, you should know about a parasite that puts travelers at risk of a rare disease, called “visceral leishmaniasis,” that can be deadly when untreated. The parasite — leishmania — is transmitted by a bite from an infected sandfly. It can lie dormant in the body for years, then later cause severe illness, including persistent high fever.
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