HEMACYTOZOON Meaning and
Definition
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Hemacytozoon is a term used to refer to a genus of parasitic protozoa known as hematozoan parasites that infect the red blood cells of vertebrates. These parasites belong to the phylum Apicomplexa and are characterized by their complex life cycles, which involve multiple stages of development and transmission between different hosts.
Typically, hemacytozoon parasites alternate between an intermediate host, such as a mosquito or tick, and a definitive host, which is usually a bird or mammal. The parasite completes its life cycle by transitioning through various forms, including sporozoites, merozoites, and gametocytes, within the red blood cells of the host.
Infection by hemacytozoon parasites can lead to severe diseases in the affected animal. Symptoms may include anemia, lethargy, fever, and organ damage. The severity of the disease depends on the species of the parasite and the immune response of the host.
To diagnose a hemacytozoon infection, a blood smear is often examined under a microscope to detect the characteristic appearance of the parasites within the red blood cells. Treatment typically involves the administration of antiparasitic medications to eliminate the parasites and alleviate the associated symptoms.
Prevention of hemacytozoon infection usually revolves around controlling the transmission of the parasite. This can be achieved by implementing vector control measures, such as eliminating mosquito breeding sites or using insecticides to repel ticks. Additionally, maintaining the general health and immunity of the potential hosts can help reduce the susceptibility to infection.
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A protozoan parasite of the red blood-corpuscles.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for HEMACYTOZOON
- hematozoon
- gemacytozoon
- bemacytozoon
- nemacytozoon
- jemacytozoon
- uemacytozoon
- yemacytozoon
- hwmacytozoon
- hsmacytozoon
- hdmacytozoon
- hrmacytozoon
- h4macytozoon
- h3macytozoon
- henacytozoon
- hekacytozoon
- hejacytozoon
- hemzcytozoon
- hemscytozoon
- hemwcytozoon
- hemqcytozoon
Etymology of HEMACYTOZOON
The word "hemacytozoon" is a combination of two components: "hema" and "cytozoon".
1. "Hema" is derived from the Greek word "haima" (αἷμα), which means "blood". It is commonly used as a prefix in biology to refer to something related to blood.
2. "Cytozoon" comes from the Greek words "kytos" (κύτος) meaning "cell" and "zōon" (ζῷον) meaning "animal". The suffix "-zoon" is traditionally used in biology to denote a microorganism or parasite.
Therefore, "hemacytozoon" can be interpreted as a microorganism or parasite that is associated with blood cells.
