murine typhus
1
9.9
- noun
- /ˈmjʊəraɪn ˈtaɪfəs/
- Specialized
- Murine typhus can cause fever, chills, and a rash in those infected by flea bites.
- murine typhus case
Examples
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Murine typhus, an acute zoonotic infection caused by Rickettsia typhi (1), occurs worldwide.
Academic text (2015) -
The best way to prevent murine typhus is to minimize exposure to ectoparasite vectors by limiting contact with rodents and fleas.
Academic text (2015) -
A murine typhus case was initially identified in Reunion, France, in 2012 in a tourist.
Academic text (2015) -
Our results support the hypothesis that murine typhus could be a major cause of fever in Reunion.
Academic text (2015) -
Specific studies are needed to assess the effect of murine typhus on public health and to describe the epidemiology of the disease.
Academic text (2015) -
In early 2012, murine typhus was reported in a tourist returning from Reunion (7).
Academic text (2015) -
Murine typhus should be considered in local patients and in travelers returning from Reunion who have fevers of unknown origin.
Academic text (2015) -
Serologic and molecular evidence is sufficient to indicate that autochthonous transmission of murine typhus exists in Réunion.
Academic text (2015) -
Many travelers to Réunion are warned about the risk of contracting murine typhus during their stay.
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Early symptoms of murine typhus include muscle aches and high fever, similar to other infectious diseases.
Synonyms
12
8.6
A serious disease spread by lice or fleas that causes high fever, headache, and a skin rash
1
7.3
A serious infection spread by lice or fleas that causes high fever, headache, and a skin rash
1
9.9
An illness caused by bacteria spread by bites from ticks, mites, or lice
1
7.0
An illness people get when ticks, mites, or lice spread tiny germs
1
8.8
A disease caused by bacteria spread by flea bites that causes fever and rash
1
8.3
A serious disease that causes fever and a rash when fleas spread bacteria to people
An illness spread by infected fleas that causes fever, chills, muscle aches, and a rash
Surface Forms
Morphology
Both constituents are semantically transparent: 'murine' means relating to mice/rats and 'typhus' denotes a disease transmitted by lice or fleas, so a learner who knows both words can infer this is a form of typhus associated with rodents. Although the term is somewhat technical/medical, its meaning is compositionally predictable from the parts and therefore accessible to someone familiar with the constituent words.
Etymology
Murine typhus: The name murine typhus comes from its parts: murine means 'from mice' and typhus is an old word for a 'fever illness'. It was named because mice and the fleas they carry spread the sickness, so today the name means 'a fever disease spread by mice and fleas'.