oocyst

American  

[oh-uh-sist] / ˈoʊ əˌsɪst /

noun

Biology.

1. the encysted zygotic stage in the life cycle of some sporozoans.

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oocyst British  

/ ˈəʊəˌsɪst /

noun

1. an encysted zygote of sporozoan protozoans that undergoes sporogony to produce infective sporozoites

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Etymology

Origin of oocyst

First recorded in 1870–75; oo- + -cyst

Example Sentences

When a host—humans included—consumes an oocyst, the spores are released and spread into the brain and muscles, forming new cysts.

From Science Magazine • Nov. 24, 2022

Only in the feline gut can it reproduce sexually and assume a hardy, infectious form called an oocyst, which gets excreted to infect more animals.

From Science Magazine • Jan. 14, 2020

Accidental ingestion or inhalation of an oocyst causes infection, and a growing body of evidence consistently points to widespread environmental contamination with T. gondii from free-roaming cats.

From Washington Post • Mar. 31, 2017

It lurks in a protected form called an oocyst.

From Slate • Jul. 2, 2015

This genus is distinguished from Coccidium by the fact that the sporocysts become dissolved up in the oocyst, thus leaving the 8 sporozoites unenclosed, recalling the condition in L�gerella.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 5 "Clervaux" to "Cockade" by Various