coccidiosis: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowTechnical/Scientific
Quick answer
What does “coccidiosis” mean?
An infectious, often intestinal disease caused by parasitic protozoa called coccidia.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An infectious, often intestinal disease caused by parasitic protozoa called coccidia.
A collective term for diseases affecting various animals (especially poultry, cattle, sheep, and rabbits) characterized by diarrhea, dehydration, and weight loss, caused by species-specific coccidian parasites.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Spelling of related terms (e.g., 'haemorrhagic' UK vs. 'hemorrhagic' US) may apply in descriptions.
Connotations
Purely technical/clinical term in both varieties.
Frequency
Extremely rare in general discourse; frequency is identical and confined to specialist fields in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “coccidiosis” in a Sentence
[Animal] + has/developed/suffers from + coccidiosiscoccidiosis + in + [animal species]coccidiosis + caused by + [Eimeria/Isospora species]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “coccidiosis” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The flock was coccidiosis-affected.
- The chicks coccidiosed severely.
American English
- The herd coccidiosed last spring.
- Poults coccidiosis readily under stress.
adjective
British English
- coccidiosis-related mortality
- coccidiosis-susceptible breeds
American English
- coccidiosis-induced lesions
- coccidiosis-specific antibodies
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in agribusiness, veterinary pharmaceuticals, and animal feed additive industries.
Academic
Core term in veterinary science, parasitology, and agricultural research papers.
Everyday
Virtually never used outside of farming or pet-keeping contexts.
Technical
Precise diagnostic term in veterinary medicine and animal pathology.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “coccidiosis”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “coccidiosis”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “coccidiosis”
- Misspelling as 'coccidosis' (dropping the 'io').
- Incorrect plural 'coccidiosises' (correct: coccidioses).
- Confusing it with 'coccidioidomycosis' (a fungal disease).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but it is very rare and typically not from the species that infect livestock. Human coccidiosis is usually caused by Cryptosporidium or Cyclospora and is often travel-associated.
Treatment involves specific antiprotozoal drugs called coccidiostats (e.g., sulfonamides, toltrazuril), alongside supportive care like fluid therapy to manage dehydration.
Yes, through good hygiene, avoiding overcrowding, and the use of prophylactic coccidiostats in feed or water. Vaccines are also available for some species.
Poultry (chickens, turkeys), ruminants (cattle, sheep, goats), and rabbits are among the most commonly and severely affected commercial species.
An infectious, often intestinal disease caused by parasitic protozoa called coccidia.
Coccidiosis is usually technical/scientific in register.
Coccidiosis: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkɒksɪdɪˈəʊsɪs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkɑːksɪdiˈoʊsɪs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'COCCk-a-doodle-DO, the hen is sick' + 'OSIS' (a disease condition). A disease (osis) that makes cocks (poultry) ill.
Conceptual Metaphor
DISEASE IS AN INVADER (The parasite invades and damages the intestinal walls).
Practice
Quiz
Coccidiosis is primarily a disease of which system?