myxomatosis
noun
myx·o·ma·to·sis
mik-ˌsō-mə-ˈtō-səs 
: a condition characterized by the presence of myxomas in the body
specifically
: a severe virus disease of rabbits that is caused by a poxvirus (species Myxoma virus of the genus Leporipoxvirus) and transmitted by mosquitoes, biting flies, and direct contact and that has been used in the biological control of rabbits especially in Australia
Examples of myxomatosis in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In 1952, physician and bacteriologist Paul-Félix Armand-Delille injected two wild European rabbits with myxomatosis virus, a type of pox disease.
—
Joan Morris, The Mercury News, 3 Feb. 2025
When Britain's rabbits died of myxomatosis in the 1950s and farmers simultaneously stopped grazing cattle, the grass got longer, the ground got cooler, the ants left, and the butterflies became endangered.
—Discover Magazine, 29 June 2010
The first virus ever deliberately used to eradicate a wild-animal population was myxoma virus, which causes myxomatosis, a disease fatal to domestic rabbits.
—Susan Orlean, The New Yorker, 29 June 2020
Eventually, a myxomatosis vaccine was developed, and the disease was more or less brought under control.
—Susan Orlean, The New Yorker, 29 June 2020
These rabbits never develop the skin tumors or any of the classic symptoms of myxomatosis.
—Ed Yong, The Atlantic, 14 Aug. 2017
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Joan Morris, The Mercury News, 3 Feb. 2025
When Britain's rabbits died of myxomatosis in the 1950s and farmers simultaneously stopped grazing cattle, the grass got longer, the ground got cooler, the ants left, and the butterflies became endangered.
—Discover Magazine, 29 June 2010
The first virus ever deliberately used to eradicate a wild-animal population was myxoma virus, which causes myxomatosis, a disease fatal to domestic rabbits.
—Susan Orlean, The New Yorker, 29 June 2020
Eventually, a myxomatosis vaccine was developed, and the disease was more or less brought under control.
—Susan Orlean, The New Yorker, 29 June 2020
These rabbits never develop the skin tumors or any of the classic symptoms of myxomatosis.
—Ed Yong, The Atlantic, 14 Aug. 2017
Cite this Entry
“Myxomatosis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/myxomatosis. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
myxomatosis
noun
myx·o·ma·to·sis
mik-ˌsō-mə-ˈtō-səs
plural myxomatoses
-ˌsēz
: a condition characterized by the presence of myxomas in the body
specifically
: a severe virus disease of rabbits that is caused by a poxvirus (species Myxoma virus of the genus Leporipoxvirus), is transmitted by mosquitoes, biting flies, and direct contact, and has been used in the biological control of wild rabbit populations
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