anthrax
/'ænθrəkɔid/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A serious infectious disease affecting humans: "anthrax" refers to a non-communicable human disease caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis, which can lead to blood poisoning.
- A highly infectious disease affecting animals: "anthrax" also denotes a severe, often fatal disease, especially in cattle and sheep, caused by the same bacterium, which can be transmitted to humans.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The farmer was diagnosed with cutaneous anthrax after handling an infected animal.
- An outbreak of anthrax in the cattle herd led to a quarantine of the farm.
- Laboratory workers must take precautions when handling samples that may contain anthrax spores.
Advanced Usage
- "Inhalation anthrax": a form of the disease contracted by breathing in anthrax spores, which is often severe.
- Inhalation anthrax is the most deadly form of the disease.
- "Gastrointestinal anthrax": a form contracted from eating contaminated meat.
- Gastrointestinal anthrax is rare in developed countries.
Variants and Related Words
- Anthracoid (adj): resembling anthrax or a carbuncle.
- The lesion had an anthracoid appearance.
- Anthracic (adj): pertaining to or affected by anthrax.
- The vet identified anthracic symptoms in the sheep.
Synonyms
- Woolsorter's disease: an older term for inhalation anthrax, historically associated with sorting contaminated wool.
- Splenic fever: an alternative name for anthrax, referring to the characteristic enlargement of the spleen in infected animals.
Related Phrases
- Anthrax vaccine: a vaccine used to prevent anthrax infection.
- Military personnel are often required to receive the anthrax vaccine.
- Anthrax spore: the dormant, resilient form of the bacterium.
- Anthrax spores can survive in soil for many years.
Related Idioms
(Note: Due to the specific and serious nature of the disease, "anthrax" is not commonly used in idiomatic expressions. Its usage is primarily medical, veterinary, and in public health contexts.)
Noun
- a disease of humans that is not communicable; caused by infection with Bacillus anthracis followed by septicemia
- a highly infectious animal disease (especially cattle and sheep); it can be transmitted to people