blastomycosis

noun

blas·​to·​my·​co·​sis ˌbla-stə-ˌmī-ˈkō-səs 

: any of several fungal infections

especially : an infectious disease caused by a yeast fungus (Blastomyces dermatitidis) that affects especially the lungs and skin

Examples of blastomycosis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Three days later, lab results came back positive for blastomycosis. — Denise Crosby, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2025

According to various medical and veterinary websites, blastomycosis is caused by breathing in fungal spores that live in moist soil and decomposing plant matter like wood and leaves. — Denise Crosby, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2025

The Centers for Disease Control said a 2022-23 outbreak of blastomycosis at Escanaba's Billerud Paper infected at least 162 people from November 2022 to May 2023. — Dan Basso, Detroit Free Press, 2 Jan. 2025

Among 483 workers without blastomycosis, 294 reported a cough, the CDC said. — Dan Basso, Detroit Free Press, 2 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

New Latin Blastomyces, singular of Blastomycetes, former taxon comprising yeasts (from blasto- blasto- + -mycetes, borrowed from Greek mýkētes, plural of mýkēs "mushroom, fungus") + -osis — more at myc-

Note: The disease-causing agent of blastomycosis is given the specific name Blastomyces dermatitidis by T. Caspar Gilchrist and William Royal Stokes in "A case of pseudo-lupus vulgaris caused by a blastomyces," Journal of Experimental Medicine, vol. 3 (1898), p. 76.

First Known Use

1899, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for blastomycosis

• amyloidosis
• anaplasmosis
• anastomosis
• aponeurosis
• apotheosis
• aspergillosis
• coccidiosis
• cryptococcosis
• cysticercosis
• endocytosis
• exocytosis
• furunculosis

Medical Definition

blastomycosis

noun

blas·​to·​my·​co·​sis -ˌmī-ˈkō-səs 

plural blastomycoses -ˌsēz 

: either of two infectious diseases caused by yeastlike fungi see blastomyces, north american blastomycosis, south american blastomycosis

blastomycotic

-ˈkät-ik 

adjective