protothecosis

A rare verrucous cutaneous infection, olecranon bursitis, or disseminated disease caused by Prototheca zopfii and Prototheca wickerhamii.

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pro·to·the·co·sis -thē-'kō-səs n, pl -co·ses -.sēz an infection produced by an alga of the genus Prototheca

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pro·to·the·co·sis (pro″to-the-koґsis) infection by organisms of the genus Prototheca, especially P. wickerhamii or P. zopfii, varying from cutaneous and subcutaneous lesions to systemic invasion involving internal organs; it may be an opportunistic infection or the result of traumatic implantation of the pathogen into the tissues. In cows it may cause mastitis.