Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun An infectious disease of domestic animals, especially cattle, swine, and dogs, caused by spirochetes of the genus Leptospira, characterized by jaundice and fever and transmitted to humans by contact with the urine of infected animals.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun An acute, infectious, febrile disease of both humans and animals, caused by spirochetes of the genus Leptospira.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun an infectious disease cause by leptospira and transmitted to humans from domestic animals; characterized by jaundice and fever

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[New Latin Leptospīra, genus name (lepto– + Latin spīra, coil; see spiral) + –osis.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

lepto- +‎ spirosis

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Examples

  • But the problem is that dengue fever and a disease called leptospirosis and malaria are becoming more and more prevalent in Guyana.

    CNN Transcript Feb 9, 2005 2005

  • An inquest heard she had contracted Weil's disease, a severe form of leptospirosis, which is caused by bacteria found in the urine of wild animals.

    Signs of the Times 2008

  • An inquest heard she had contracted Weil's disease, a severe form of leptospirosis, which is caused by bacteria found in the urine of wild animals.

    Signs of the Times 2008

  • An inquest heard she had contracted Weil's disease, a severe form of leptospirosis, which is caused by bacteria found in the urine of wild animals.

    Signs of the Times 2008

  • The Marine Mammal Center is studying the disease _ called leptospirosis _ which afflicts a large number of California's sea lions every four or five years.

    KCBS Bay Area News 2008

  • In particular, rats and mice are carriers of diseases such as leptospirosis, amoebiasis, certain forms of typhus and, through their parasites, they can spread plague.

    7.1 The Importance of Proper Storage Facilities 1989

  • Update: 1: 26PM The Health Ministry has warned members of the public to be wary of diseases such as leptospirosis, scabies, diarrhoea, typhoid and scabies.

    Fiji Times Online - Local News 2009

  • "There is also a high chance of other diseases such as dengue, typhoid and leptospirosis which is likely to develop two weeks after the flood," he said.

    Fijilive.com - Gateway to Fiji Islands - News 2009

  • More nurses sought vs leptospirosis problem. 5000 nurses fan out as wellness warriors Philippi … Computer literacy empowers.

    Literacy News – 72th Edition « News « Literacy News 2009

  • More nurses sought vs leptospirosis problem. 5000 nurses fan out as wellness warriors Philippi … Computer literacy empowers.

    Literacy News – 73th Edition « News « Literacy News 2009

Comments

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  • Usage on Machupo virus.

    October 6, 2008

  • Sewer worker's disease, contractible by ingestion of rat urine. As c_b has pointed out, the culprit is the rna virus known as the Machupo virus.

    November 18, 2010

  • Um... ingestion?

    *shudders*

    November 18, 2010

  • Likely not voluntary, r.

    November 21, 2010