texas fever: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Technical/Veterinary
Quick answer
What does “texas fever” mean?
A cattle disease characterized by fever, caused by a blood parasite transmitted by ticks.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A cattle disease characterized by fever, caused by a blood parasite transmitted by ticks.
An acute infectious anaplasmosis of cattle; historically, a major concern for cattle ranchers in the southern United States.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Term is American in origin and usage. In British veterinary contexts, the more specific scientific name (e.g., bovine babesiosis) or generic 'tick fever' might be used.
Connotations
In American usage, strongly associated with the history of the American West and cattle industry. Has minimal cultural resonance in British English.
Frequency
Exclusively low-frequency. Used almost solely in American historical or specialist veterinary texts. Extremely rare in contemporary British English.
Grammar
How to Use “texas fever” in a Sentence
Vaccinate against Texas fever.The herd contracted Texas fever.Research focuses on eradicating Texas fever.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “texas fever” in a Sentence
verb
American English
- The herd was feared to have texas-fevered.
adjective
American English
- Texas-fever research is ongoing.
- A Texas-fever quarantine zone was established.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Historical impact on cattle trade and quarantine laws.
Academic
Veterinary pathology, agricultural history, parasitology.
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation.
Technical
Precise veterinary diagnosis and livestock management discussions.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “texas fever”
- Using it to refer to a human illness.
- Confusing it with 'Texas-sized fever' (a playful idiom for a high temperature).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, Texas fever (bovine babesiosis) is not a zoonotic disease; it affects cattle only.
It is largely controlled in the US through tick eradication, vaccination, and quarantine, but remains a concern in some regions globally.
It was named because it was particularly prevalent in and associated with cattle from Texas in the 19th century, which often carried the tick vector.
High fever, anaemia (pale mucous membranes), red or brown urine (hemoglobinuria), weakness, and often death.
A cattle disease characterized by fever, caused by a blood parasite transmitted by ticks.
Texas fever is usually technical/veterinary in register.
Texas fever: in British English it is pronounced /ˈtɛksəs ˈfiːvə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈtɛksəs ˈfivər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a Texas longhorn with a thermometer – the 'fever' from ticks in Texas.
Conceptual Metaphor
DISEASE IS AN INVADER (from the South).
Practice
Quiz
What is Texas fever?