fowl pox

noun

: either of two forms of a disease occurring worldwide especially in chickens and turkeys that is caused by a poxvirus (species Fowlpox virus of the genus Avipoxvirus) transmitted by contact or by insect vectors:
a
: a cutaneous form marked by proliferating lesions especially on skin lacking feathers that progress to pustules, warty growths, and scabs

called also sorehead

b
: a more serious diphtheritic form occurring as cheesy lesions of the mucous membranes of the mouth, throat, and eyes that sometimes coalesce into a false membrane

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Cite this Entry

“Fowl pox.” Merriam-Webster.com Medical Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/medical/fowl%20pox. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

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