marek's disease: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowTechnical/Scientific
Quick answer
What does “marek's disease” mean?
A highly contagious viral neoplastic disease affecting chickens, characterised by lymphoma formation and paralysis.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A highly contagious viral neoplastic disease affecting chickens, characterised by lymphoma formation and paralysis.
In broader veterinary and agricultural contexts, it serves as a primary example of a virally-induced cancer in animals and a major economic concern in poultry farming.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in terminology. Both varieties use the same eponymous name. Spelling follows the standard possessive 'Marek's'.
Connotations
Purely technical/connotatively neutral in both varieties. Associated with veterinary science, virology, and poultry pathology.
Frequency
Extremely rare in general discourse. Frequency is equal and confined to specialised fields (veterinary medicine, agriculture) in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “marek's disease” in a Sentence
[Subject: virus/farm] + cause + Marek's disease[Subject: chickens] + contract/develop + Marek's disease[Subject: vets] + diagnose + Marek's disease + [in poultry][Subject: vaccine] + protect + [object: flock] + from/against + Marek's diseaseVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “marek's disease” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The flock was **Marek's-diseased** and had to be culled.
- The virus **Mareks** the nervous system.
American English
- The chicks were **Marek's-diseased** and showed paralysis.
- The strain **Mareks** birds very quickly.
adjective
British English
- The **Marek's-positive** hens were isolated.
- A **Marek's-related** paralysis was observed.
American English
- The **Marek's-vaccinated** flock remained healthy.
- They conducted a **Marek's-specific** PCR test.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Discussed in the context of agricultural insurance, poultry farm profitability, and biosecurity costs.
Academic
A key subject in veterinary pathology, virology journals, and poultry science textbooks.
Everyday
Virtually never used unless the speaker is a poultry farmer or hobbyist.
Technical
The primary register. Used in diagnostic manuals, vaccine literature, veterinary reports, and research papers on herpesviruses and oncogenesis.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “marek's disease”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “marek's disease”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “marek's disease”
- Incorrect capitalisation ('marek's disease')
- Misspelling the possessive ('Mareks disease')
- Using as a common noun ('a marek disease')
- Confusing it with other avian diseases like Newcastle disease or avian influenza.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, Marek's disease is not zoonotic. It only affects birds, primarily chickens.
The disease is named after József Marek, a Hungarian veterinarian who first described it in 1907.
There is no cure for infected birds. Management is based entirely on prevention through vaccination and strict biosecurity.
Symptoms include paralysis of legs or wings, vision impairment, weight loss, and the development of tumours in various organs.
A highly contagious viral neoplastic disease affecting chickens, characterised by lymphoma formation and paralysis.
Marek's disease is usually technical/scientific in register.
Marek's disease: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmɑːrɛks dɪˌziːz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmɛrɪks dɪˌziz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: Marek's disease MAReKs chickens with paralysis and tumours. (Remember the 'K' in Marek).
Conceptual Metaphor
DISEASE IS AN ENEMY/INVADER ('combat Marek's disease', 'fight against Marek's').
Practice
Quiz
What type of pathogen causes Marek's disease?