tularemia

noun

tu·​la·​re·​mia ˌtü-lə-ˈrē-mē-ə How to pronounce tularemia (audio)
ˌtyü-
: an infectious disease especially of wild rabbits, rodents, some domestic animals, and humans that is caused by a bacterium (Francisella tularensis), is transmitted especially by the bites of insects, and in humans is marked by symptoms (such as fever) of toxemia

called also rabbit fever

tularemic adjective

Examples of tularemia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Ticks, for instance, can transmit infections that cause Lyme disease, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis and tularemia. Katia Hetter, CNN, 29 Feb. 2024 In addition to Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ticks carry other diseases including Lyme disease and tularemia. City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Nov. 2023 That experiment failed, as did others involving anthrax and tularemia. Larry Brilliant, Foreign Affairs, 20 Dec. 2022 There are signs in the new study and others that climate change is causing Alaska polar bears to become increasingly at risk of tularemia. Yereth Rosen, Anchorage Daily News, 27 Nov. 2022 Exposure to their feces, urine or saliva is known to spread hantavirus, leptospirosis, lymphocytic choriomeningitis, tularemia and salmonella. Melissa Healy, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2023 Lone star ticks, abundant in the South, transmit infections like tularemia, ehrlichiosis, and a Lyme-like illness not yet identified. Linda Marsa, Discover Magazine, 4 Feb. 2011 By 1952, the nation was itself well on its way to manufacturing weapons-grade brucella, tularemia, Q fever, anthrax, and many more biological agents, and was denying accusations of waging biological warfare by China, North Korea and Cuba (9)(10). Rebecca Kreston, Discover Magazine, 11 June 2013 In Alaska, snowshoe hares are considered the reservoir for tularemia, Smith said. Yereth Rosen, Anchorage Daily News, 27 Nov. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tularemia.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Tulare County, California

First Known Use

1921, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tularemia was in 1921

Dictionary Entries Near tularemia

Cite this Entry

“Tularemia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tularemia. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

tularemia

noun
tu·​la·​re·​mia ˌt(y)ü-lə-ˈrē-mē-ə How to pronounce tularemia (audio)
: a disease especially of rodents, wild rabbits, human beings, and some domestic animals that is caused by a bacterium and passed on by the bites of insects or ticks

Medical Definition

tularemia

noun
tu·​la·​re·​mia
variants or chiefly British tularaemia
: an infectious disease especially of wild rabbits, rodents, some domestic animals, and humans that is caused by a bacterium (Francisella tularensis), is transmitted especially by the bites of insects, and in humans is marked by symptoms (as fever) of toxemia

called also rabbit fever

tularemic adjective
or chiefly British tularaemic

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