leptospirosis

noun lep·to·spi·ro·sis \ ˌlep-tə-spī-ˈrō-səs \

Updated on: 29 Apr 2018

Definition of leptospirosis

plural leptospiroses play \ˌlep-tə-spī-ˈrō-ˌsēz\

: any of several diseases of humans and domestic animals that are caused by infection with leptospires

Recent Examples of leptospirosis from the Web

Some diseases — both viral and bacterial — are known to spread from mice and other rodents to humans, including hantavirus, Lassa fever, and leptospirosis, often when the animals’ feces or urine contaminates people’s food.

— andrew joseph, STAT, "Germs carried by New York’s mice are plentiful, and some have antibiotic-resistance genes," 17 Apr. 2018
Deworming is also mandatory within 10 days of beginning the trip to Nome, and vaccinations (distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvovirus, bordetella, rabies) must be current.

— stuart l. nelson, jr., Anchorage Daily News, "An inside look at Iditarod dog care," 28 Feb. 2018
Most of the island’s residents still do not have electricity and basic needs, and there's been a leptospirosis outbreak due to lack of accessible potable water in certain parts of the island.

— tatiana tenreyro, Billboard, "Puerto Rican 'Drag Race' Alumni Talk Show's Impact on the Island Ahead of Benefit Concert," 2 Nov. 2017
At least 74 suspected cases of leptospirosis, a dangerous bacteria, have been reported, including two deaths.

— oren dorell and atabey nuñez, USA TODAY, "Puerto Rico's water woes raise fears of health crisis six weeks after Hurricane Maria," 2 Nov. 2017
Dozens of cases of leptospirosis, an illness spread by contaminated water, are suspected.

— samantha matsumoto, OregonLive.com, "Oregon nurses aid in Puerto Rico recovery," 30 Oct. 2017
The family -- like many in Puerto Rico -- had never heard of leptospirosis and still has no idea exactly where the elder Sanyet could have gotten it.

— martin savidge, CNN, "Puerto Rico family mourns father they believe was killed by tainted water," 27 Oct. 2017
The unnamed victim died of the bacterial disease leptospirosis.

— rachel riederer, Smithsonian, "Bacterial Infections Spread in Storm-Ravaged Puerto Rico and Texas," 26 Oct. 2017
Symptoms of leptospirosis may include high fever and headaches, and it is sometimes mistaken for a case of the flu.

— CBS News, "Puerto Rico's death toll from Hurricane Maria increases to 51," 24 Oct. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'leptospirosis.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of leptospirosis

New Latin

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: circa 1926

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

Medical Dictionary

leptospirosis

noun lep·to·spi·ro·sis \ ˌlep-tə-spī-ˈrō-səs \

medical Definition of leptospirosis

plural leptospiroses play \-ˌsēz\

: any of several diseases of humans and domestic animals (as cattle and dogs) that are caused by infection with spirochetes of the genus Leptospira — called also lepto; see stuttgart disease, weil's disease

Learn More about leptospirosis

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about leptospirosis

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leptospirosis

Definition of leptospirosis

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Origin and Etymology of leptospirosis

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leptospirosis

medical Definition of leptospirosis

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