columnaris disease

noun

variants or less commonly columnaris

ˌkäləmˈna(a)rə̇s

plural -es

: a highly fatal disease of fingerling trout and salmon especially when concentrated in hatchery ponds that is caused by a myxobacterium (Chondrococcus columnaris)

Word History

Etymology

New Latin columnaris, specific epithet of Chondrococcus columnaris, species causing the disease, from Late Latin, columnar

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