chytridiomycosis

noun

chy·​trid·​i·​o·​my·​co·​sis kī-ˌtri-dē-ō-mī-ˈkō-səs How to pronounce chytridiomycosis (audio)
kə-
: a disease of amphibians caused by a chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis) that infects the superficial layers of the epidermis resulting in degradation of the skin, disruption of gas exchange with the environment, and eventual death due to cardiac arrest
Frogs and salamanders worldwide are dying in catastrophic numbers, very likely of a fungal disorder called chytridiomycosis, which clogs an amphibian's skin and deranges its blood chemistry.Natalie Angier
… the pathophysiology of chytridiomycosis appears to be disruption to the osmoregulatory functioning of the skin and consequent osmotic imbalance that leads to cardiac standstill.Jamie Voyles et al.

Examples of chytridiomycosis 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.
Australian researchers found that frogs fought off the chytridiomycosis disease in small sauna-like shelters that retained heat. Kyle Melnick, Washington Post, 3 July 2024 One of the biggest ongoing and difficult to manage threats is chytridiomycosis (chytrid, for short), a fungal disease caused by Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 26 June 2024 Over the past half century, an infectious fungal disease called chytridiomycosis has been particularly deadly for amphibians, wiping out roughly 90 species and leading to the decline of another 400. Margaret Osborne, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Oct. 2023 No one knows for sure how chytridiomycosis kills frogs, but theories point to severe imbalances in water and electrolytes, leading to a heart attack. Matt Hrodey, Discover Magazine, 2 May 2023 Co-author Karen Lips began the study back before the disease chytridiomycosis, which is caused by a fungus called Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis and has devastated amphibian populations, reached that place and began to afflict its inhabitants. Andrew Moseman, Discover Magazine, 20 July 2010 Frogs can contract chytridiomycosis from the pathogen by swimming in infested waters, where the fungus lives, or brushing up against another infected animal. Jackie Wattles, CNN, 24 Mar. 2023 Skin cancer only adds to a growing list of pathological consequences to our poor ecological choices - a list which includes devastating diseases like chytridiomycosis and avian malaria. Christie Wilcox, Discover Magazine, 1 Aug. 2012 Every untreated animal died of chytridiomycosis, but those bathed in the bacterium showed no symptoms. Daniel Lametti, Discover Magazine, 7 Jan. 2011

Word History

Etymology

New Latin chytridiomyc- (in Chytridiomycota, phylum name or Chytridiomycetes, class name) + -osis; Chyrtridiomycota probably from Chytridiomycetes, class name proposed earlier (from Chytridium, genus name + -o- -o- + -mycetes, borrowed from Greek mýkētes, plural of mýkēs "mushroom, fungus") + -ota -ota — more at chytrid, myco-

First Known Use

1998, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of chytridiomycosis was in 1998

Dictionary Entries Near chytridiomycosis

Cite this Entry

“Chytridiomycosis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chytridiomycosis. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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