Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Sylvatic
Introduction
Sylvatic is a scientific term referring to diseases or pathogens affecting only wild (sylvan means forest-dwelling) animals. In the context of animal research, its opposite is domestic, which refers to pets, farm animals or other animals which do not dwell in the wild.
- Examples: sylvatic rabies; sylvatic and domestic bacterial strains; sylvatic yellow fever
The word “sylvatic” is also simply a synonym for “sylvan” (or “silvan”) = “of the forest”.