pullorum disease

noun

pul·​lo·​rum disease pə-ˈlȯr-əm- How to pronounce pullorum disease (audio)
: a destructive typically diarrheal salmonellosis especially of young domestic chickens that is caused by a bacterium (Salmonella pullorum)

Examples of pullorum disease in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Utah, for example, requires some cattle to test negative or be vaccinated for brucellosis, a bacterial infection, while Maryland requires chickens to test negative for pullorum disease and typhoid. Linda Qiu, New York Times, 20 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

New Latin pullorum (specific epithet of Salmonella pullorum), from Latin, of chickens (genitive plural of pullus)

First Known Use

1929, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pullorum disease was in 1929

Dictionary Entries Near pullorum disease

Cite this Entry

“Pullorum disease.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pullorum%20disease. Accessed 25 Nov. 2024.

Medical Definition

pullorum disease

noun
pul·​lo·​rum disease pə-ˈlōr-əm-, -ˈlȯr- How to pronounce pullorum disease (audio)
: a destructive typically diarrheic salmonellosis especially of the domestic chicken caused by a bacterium of the genus Salmonella (S. pullorum) which is transmitted either through the egg or from chick to chick

called also pullorum

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!