Kala-azar

Kala-azar is identified in the supplied record as visceral leishmaniasis, placing it within the broader group of leishmanial parasitic infections [disease metadata]^[1][2]. Leishmaniasis is caused by flagellated parasites of the genus Leishmania, and the literature snippet describes these organisms as dimorphic intracellular parasites in the host and flagellated protozoa in the vector ^[3]. The available sources support classification and etiologic context, but do not provide additional kala-azar-specific taxonomic detail beyond the visceral form designation ^[1][2].

The source material states that visceral leishmaniasis is one of the three major clinical forms of leishmaniasis, alongside cutaneous and mucosal disease ^[3][2]. Beyond that form label, the supplied snippets do not describe the syndrome, symptom pattern, severity spectrum, complications, or natural history of kala-azar specifically ^[1][2]. One review notes that clinical manifestations vary with parasite virulence, host immune response, and lesion site, but this statement is general to leishmaniasis and not specific enough to infer visceral disease features from the provided evidence ^[3]. Source-backed detail on kala-azar clinical presentation is therefore not yet available from these snippets ^[1][2].

The available leishmaniasis literature describes the disease as distributed extensively worldwide in the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Africa, with epidemiology shaped by environmental, migratory, and climatic factors ^[3]. However, this geographic statement is for leishmaniasis overall and does not isolate the burden or distribution of visceral disease specifically ^[3][2]. One review indicates that choice of treatment for visceral leishmaniasis varies by region of acquisition, implying meaningful geographic heterogeneity, but it does not enumerate endemic areas in the supplied text ^[1]. Source-backed detail on kala-azar surveillance burden, outbreak patterns, or reservoir ecology specific to visceral disease is not yet available from the snippets provided ^[3][1][2].

The supplied review states that leishmaniasis is, in most cases, a zoonotic disease transmitted via the bite of bloodsucking sand flies of the genus Phlebotomus ^[3]. It also notes that reservoirs consist of wild or semi-domesticated animals, generally rodents or dogs, but this is given for leishmaniasis overall rather than explicitly for kala-azar ^[3]. No additional source-backed detail on persistence, person-to-person spread, or other transmission routes is available in the provided material ^[3][1].

The supplied material identifies immunosuppressed patients as a group requiring adapted diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in visceral leishmaniasis ^[1]. Beyond that, the snippets do not specify age groups, occupational exposures, pregnancy, travel status, or other high-risk populations for kala-azar ^[3][1][2]. Reservoir-associated exposure to sand flies and animal hosts is described for leishmaniasis generally, but not translated into a validated risk-group list for visceral disease in the provided sources ^[3]. Source-backed detail on additional risk groups is therefore not yet available ^[1][2].

The supplied sources do not provide direct prevention guidance specific to kala-azar ^[1][2]. The only prevention-relevant evidence in the snippets is indirect: transmission is associated with sand fly bites and reservoirs among animals, which implies exposure control would logically focus on vector and reservoir interfaces, but the sources do not state any specific measures ^[3]. Vaccine candidates are mentioned in a review of leishmaniasis research, but no recommended vaccine or preventive schedule is provided in the supplied text ^[2]. Source-backed detail on practical prevention recommendations is therefore not yet available ^[3][2].

In surveillance settings, kala-azar should be read as the visceral leishmaniasis category within the broader leishmaniasis spectrum [disease metadata]^[2]. The supplied sources emphasize that leishmaniasis diagnosis has increasingly used rK39 and rK28 rapid tests, direct agglutination testing, and conventional or real-time PCR, including on peripheral blood, but they do not define which of these are required for routine case classification in this setting ^[1][2]. Because the treatment and diagnostic approach may vary by region of acquisition and by immune status, surveillance interpretation should note geographic context and immunosuppression when available ^[1]. Source-backed detail on formal case definitions or reporting thresholds is not yet available from the provided snippets ^[1][2].

1. 1 van Griensven J et al. Visceral Leishmaniasis: Recent Advances in Diagnostics and Treatment Regimens. Infect Dis Clin North Am. 2019 Mar. PMID: 30712769. doi: 10.1016/j.idc.2018.10.005. PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30712769/
2. 2 Mann S et al. A Review of Leishmaniasis: Current Knowledge and Future Directions. Curr Trop Med Rep. 2021. PMID: 33747716. doi: 10.1007/s40475-021-00232-7. PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33747716/
3. 3 Mokni M et al. [Cutaneous leishmaniasis]. Ann Dermatol Venereol. 2019 Mar. PMID: 30879803. doi: 10.1016/j.annder.2019.02.002. PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30879803/
4. 4 Kala-azar. BMJ. 1898. doi: 10.1136/bmj.1.1943.861-a. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.1.1943.861-a
5. 5 Kala-azar. FAQs in Pediatric Infectious Diseases. 2014. doi: 10.5005/jp/books/12114_25. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5005/jp/books/12114_25
6. 6 Kala-Azar. Encyclopedia of Entomology. 2008. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4020-6359-6_1603. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-6359-6_1603

ICD-10

B55

ICD-11

1F51

Total cases

159K

Total deaths

12

Peak month

2014-01

Coverage

2 reporting countries · 2000-01-01 → 2026-05-01