myxomatosis

American  

[mik-suh-muh-toh-sis] / ˌmɪk sə məˈtoʊ sɪs /

noun

1. Pathology.

   1. a condition characterized by the presence of many myxomas.

   2. myxomatous degeneration.

2. Veterinary Pathology. a highly infectious viral disease of rabbits, artificially introduced into Great Britain and Australia to reduce the rabbit population.

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myxomatosis British  

/ ˌmɪksəməˈtəʊsɪs /

noun

1. an infectious and usually fatal viral disease of rabbits characterized by swelling of the mucous membranes and formation of skin tumours; transmitted by flea bites

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Etymology

Origin of myxomatosis

1925–30; < New Latin myxomat- (stem of myxoma; see myx-, -oma) + -osis

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

myxomatosis

Allan Johnstone, from the Tweeddale Red Squirrel Network, said it was a "terrible disease" which had similar effects on squirrels to myxomatosis in rabbits.

From BBC ● Jun. 23, 2026

Next, in the 1950s, the introduced virus myxomatosis razed the rabbit population, reducing competition for grain and helping cockatoo populations to flourish.

From New York Times ● Jun. 10, 2022

Peter Rabbit, older and stouter, is involved, and fans will be relieved to learn that there are no Atticus-Finch-like revelations—no blights of myxomatosis, no catastrophic burrowing incidents—about the later years of this beloved character.

From The New Yorker ● Feb. 1, 2016

As he trailed sadly off, the stump mike caught his rueful rendition of Larkin’s myxomatosis: Caught in the centre of a soundless field While hot inexplicable hours go by What trap is this?

From The Guardian ● Jan. 2, 2016

He had coolly—some even said coldly—stood firm during the terrible onslaught of the myxomatosis, ruthlessly driving out every rabbit who seemed to be sickening.

From "Watership Down: A Novel" by Richard Adams