| 释义 |
myxomatosis|ˌmɪksəməˈtəʊsɪs|
[f. myxomat- (taken as stem of myxoma) + -osis, as tr. G. myxomkrankheit (G. Sanarelli 1898, in Centralbl. für Bakteriol. XXIII. 871).]
A highly infectious virus disease of rabbits, originally detected in Brazil but now occurring elsewhere, characterized by fever, swelling of the mucous membranes, and the presence of myxomata; the disease has been artificially introduced into several countries to reduce rabbit populations. Also attrib. and transf. So myˈxomatized ppl. a., infected with myxomatosis.
1927Proc. Soc. Exper. Biol. & Med. XXIV. 436 The point of particular interest concerning the myxomatosis of rabbits..is the fact that both epithelial tissue and connective tissue is affected. 1938Nature 16 Apr. 682/2 A field test is now in progress of the virus of myxomatosis, as an agent in reducing rabbit population. 1953Times 20 Oct. 5/4 The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries announced yesterday that in the past week myxomatosis, a virus disease of rabbits, was discovered near Edenbridge, Kent. 1953A. Upfield Murder must Wait v. 44 ‘Was the child raised on cow's milk?’..‘No, of course not. It wouldn't do, what with cows feeding off the same grass as myxomatised rabbits and things.’ 1955Sci. News Let. 5 Feb. 88/3 Myxomatosis..is threatening to wipe out the European rabbit. 1955Sci. Amer. May 32/1 The myxomatosis virus..was recently introduced in France by a doctor who wished to get rid of the rabbits on his estate, and..the disease soon spread over most of Western Europe. 1958Times 6 Jan. 5/6 Rabbit numbers are increasing in many parts of the country, although isolated outbreaks of myxomatosis have lately occurred in over 30 counties... It seems that myxomatosis is now in a weakened strain. 1966[see columnaris]. 1968M. Pyke Food & Society v. 59 The farmers.., for their own ends, had introduced the disease, myxomatosis, to exterminate the rabbits, which previously kept the brush in check. 1972R. Adams Watership Down ii. 8 He had coolly..stood firm during the terrible onslaught of the myxomatosis. |