BOTHRIOCEPHALUS Meaning and
Definition
-
Bothriocephalus is a genus of parasitic tapeworms belonging to the family Bothriocephalidae. These tapeworms are commonly known as fish tapeworms due to their habitat within the intestines of various fish species. They are characterized by their elongated and ribbon-shaped bodies, which can reach several meters in length.
The name Bothriocephalus is derived from the Greek words "bothrios," meaning furrow or groove, and "cephalos," meaning head. This name reflects the unique and distinguishing feature of the genus, which is the presence of a characteristic groove, or bothria, on the head region. This groove is used by the tapeworms to attach themselves firmly to the intestinal walls of their fish hosts, enabling them to absorb nutrients from the host's digestive system.
Bothriocephalus tapeworms typically have a two-host life cycle, commonly involving fish as intermediate hosts and birds or mammals as definitive hosts. The eggs of these tapeworms are released in the feces of the definitive host, and they require water to hatch into larvae known as coracidia. These coracidia are then ingested by small aquatic crustaceans, which serve as the first intermediate hosts. Fish become infected with the tapeworm by consuming these infected crustaceans. Once inside the fish, the tapeworm larvae develop into an infective stage known as a plerocercoid. When the fish is consumed by a bird or mammal, the plerocercoid attaches itself to the intestinal wall of the new host, where it develops into an adult tapeworm, completing the life cycle.
Bothriocephalus tapeworm infections in humans are rare but possible, usually occurring through the consumption
-
A genus of Cestoidea, or tapeworms, called also Dibothriocephalus.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for BOTHRIOCEPHALUS
- vothriocephalus
- nothriocephalus
- hothriocephalus
- gothriocephalus
- bithriocephalus
- bkthriocephalus
- blthriocephalus
- bpthriocephalus
- b0thriocephalus
- b9thriocephalus
- borhriocephalus
- bofhriocephalus
- boghriocephalus
- boyhriocephalus
- bo6hriocephalus
- bo5hriocephalus
- botgriocephalus
- botbriocephalus
- botnriocephalus
- botjriocephalus
Etymology of BOTHRIOCEPHALUS
The word "Bothriocephalus" has its etymology rooted in the ancient Greek language. It is formed by combining two Greek words: "bothrion" (βόθριον), meaning "pit" or "ditch", and "kephalē" (κεφαλή), meaning "head". The word "Bothriocephalus" is commonly used as the genus name for a group of parasitic tapeworms that have a scolex (head) with a groove or pit-like structure.
Infographic
Add the infographic to your website:
