Recent Examples on the WebAdded genetic diversity could help protect the population from diseases such as sylvatic plague and canine distemper that periodically slash its numbers, reports Mead Gruver for the Associated Press. Alex Fox, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Feb. 2021 All ferrets reintroduced so far are the descendants of just seven closely related animals — genetic similarity that makes today’s ferrets potentially susceptible to intestinal parasites and diseases such as sylvatic plague. Mead Gruver, USA TODAY, 19 Feb. 2021 All ferrets reintroduced so far are the descendants of just seven closely related animals — genetic similarity that makes today’s ferrets potentially susceptible to intestinal parasites and diseases such as sylvatic plague.NBC News, 19 Feb. 2021 The lack of genetic diversity is a concern for scientists, however: Genetic similarity would make the new ferrets potentially susceptible to intestinal parasites and diseases such as sylvatic plague. Peter Aitken, Fox News, 19 Feb. 2021 Diseases like sylvatic plague wiped out the ferrets that the biologists left behind. Theresa Machemer, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Jan. 2021 Most of those rare animals were then lost to disease, including sylvatic plague, the animal version of the Black Death that has plagued humans. Jonel Aleccia, Quartz, 23 Dec. 2020 Most of those rare animals were then lost to disease, including sylvatic plague, the animal version of the Black Death that has plagued humans. Jonel Aleccia, CNN, 23 Dec. 2020 In 1987, there were only 18 surviving due to outbreaks of canine distemper virus and sylvatic plague. Maggie Menderski, The Courier-Journal, 24 Feb. 2020 See More
Word History
Etymology
Latin silvaticus of the woods, wild — more at savage
First Known Use
1661, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Medical Definition
sylvatic
adjective
syl·vat·ic sil-ˈvat-ik
: occurring in, affecting, or transmitted by wild animals