Texas fever

noun

: an infectious disease of cattle transmitted by the cattle tick and caused by a protozoan (Babesia bigemina) that multiplies in the blood and destroys the red blood cells

Word History

First Known Use

1866, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Texas fever was in 1866

Dictionary Entries Near Texas fever

Cite this Entry

“Texas fever.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Texas%20fever. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

Texas fever

noun
Tex·​as fever ˈtek-səs- How to pronounce Texas fever (audio)
: an infectious disease of cattle transmitted by the cattle tick and caused by a sporozoan of the genus Babesia (B. bigemina) that multiplies in the blood and destroys red blood cells

called also cattle-tick fever, Texas cattle fever

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