schistosome

[ shis-tuh-sohm ]

noun

1. Also called bilharzia. any elongated trematode of the genus Schistosoma, parasitic in the blood vessels of humans and other mammals; a blood fluke.

adjective

1. Also schisto·somal. pertaining to or caused by schistosomes.

schistosome

/ ˈʃɪstəˌsəʊm /

noun

1. any of various blood flukes of the chiefly tropical genus Schistosoma, which cause disease in man and domestic animals Also calledbilharzia

schistosome

/ shĭs′tə-sōm′ /

1. Any of several chiefly tropical trematodes of the genus Schistosoma, many of which are parasitic in the blood of birds and mammals, including three species that cause infection in humans, as in schistosomiasis.

Word History and Origins

Origin of schistosome¹

1900–05; < New Latin Schistosoma, equivalent to schist ( us ) ( schist ) + -o- -o- + -soma (neuter plural) -some ³

Word History and Origins

Origin of schistosome¹

C19: from New Latin Schistosoma; see schist , -some ³