Kala azar: Another name for visceral leishmaniasis (Leishmania donovani).

Kanamycin: An antibiotic used in the presumptive identification of anaerobic bacteria.

Karyosome: Concentrated clumps of chromatin material within the nucleus; position and morphology often used to differentiate intestinal protozoa.

Kawasaki disease: Mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome; disease of children that may involve more serious phenomena such as cardiac disease.

KCl: Potassium chloride.

kd: kilodalton.

Kerandel's sign: Delayed sensation to pain (African trypanosomiasis).

Keratin: A scleroprotein containing large amounts of sulfur, such as cystine; the primary component of skin, hair, and nails.

Keratinophilic: Fungi that use keratin as a substrate. Example: Dermatophytes.

Keratitis: Inflammation of the cornea of the eye.

kg: Kilogram(s).

KIA: Kligler's iron agar (tube).

Kilobase (kb): A 1000 base fragment of nucleic acid. A kilobase pair is a fragment containing 1000 base pairs.

Kingdom: The highest category in the taxonomic hierarchy of classification.

Knott technique: Concentration procedure using blood and dilute formalin; designed to detect microfilaria (Wuchereria and Brugia spp.).

KOH: Potassium hydroxide.

Kohler illumination: Modification of brightfield microscopy in which a substage condenser is used to avoid glare from illuminating source.