1. a contagious bacterial disease of horses, mules, and donkeys that can spread to humans, characterized by fever, inflammation of mucous membranes, and formation of nodules
Usage: veterinary medicine; usually treated as singular despite plural form

Examples

• The veterinarian diagnosed the horse with glanders after examining the nasal discharge.
• Glanders was once a serious threat to cavalry units during wartime.
• The stable was quarantined when several horses showed symptoms of glanders.
• Modern antibiotics have made glanders treatable in both animals and humans.
• The disease glanders is caused by the bacterium Burkholderia mallei.
• Historical records show that glanders decimated horse populations in the 19th century.