SPOROZOITE Meaning and
Definition
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A sporozoite is a specialized and usually motile form of protozoan parasites belonging to the phylum Apicomplexa. It is the infectious stage of the parasite's life cycle and is typically found in organisms that are transmitted through the bite of infected vectors, such as mosquitoes.
Sporozoites are characterized by their elongated shape and are usually covered by a protective outer membrane. They are microscopic in size and are often formed within specialized structures called sporocysts or oocysts, which are present in the definitive host or within the vector.
Upon transmission of the parasite to a new host, the sporozoites are injected into the bloodstream or deposited in tissues. Once inside the host, they travel to their target site, such as the liver or the cells of the central nervous system, depending on the species. Sporozoites possess unique molecular and biochemical machinery that enables them to invade host cells and establish infection.
Once inside a host cell, sporozoites transform into other forms, such as merozoites or schizonts, which go on to replicate and cause further stages of the disease. In some cases, sporozoites can also become dormant and form tissue cysts, persisting in the host for extended periods.
Understanding the structure, biology, and function of sporozoites is crucial in the development of strategies for the prevention and treatment of diseases caused by parasitic protozoa, such as malaria, toxoplasmosis, and babesiosis.
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One of the minute elongated bodies resulting from the repeated division of the ookinete or oocyst, falciform body; in the case of the malarial parasite it is the form which is introduced into the blood by the bite of a mosquito and enters the erythrocyte, there to develop into the mature parasite.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for SPOROZOITE
- aporozoite
- zporozoite
- xporozoite
- dporozoite
- eporozoite
- wporozoite
- soorozoite
- slorozoite
- s-orozoite
- s0orozoite
- spirozoite
- spkrozoite
- splrozoite
- spprozoite
- sp0rozoite
- sp9rozoite
- spoeozoite
- sporkozoite
- sporozoitee
- qporozoite
Etymology of SPOROZOITE
The word "sporozoite" is derived from the combination of two Greek roots: "sporo" and "zoite".
The first root, "sporo", comes from the Greek word "spora", which means "seed" or "spore". In biological terms, "sporo" indicates a reproductive or infective stage that is responsible for initiating new individuals or infections.
The second root, "zoite", is derived from the Greek word "zoon", which means "animal" or "living being". It refers to a distinct, independent, and usually motile stage in the life cycle of certain parasites.
Therefore, when combined, "sporozoite" literally means "seed-like animal", highlighting a stage in the life cycle of certain parasites that is responsible for initiating new infections or reproducing.
Similar spelling words for SPOROZOITE
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