black disease

black disease

n (Veterinary Science) vet science an infectious necrotic hepatitis in sheep and occasionally cattle caused by toxins produced by infection with species of Clostridial. Secondary to liver fluke infestation, the disease is characterized by sudden death. So-called because of the black discolouration of subcutaneous tissues due to congestion and haemorrhage seen at post-mortem

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

black disease - a disease of the liver (especially in sheep and cattle) caused by liver flukes and their by-productsdistomatosis, liver rot, sheep rotanimal disease - a disease that typically does not affect human beings