🐛 A tapeworm 🐛 A tapeworm genus

Diphyllobothrium

9.9

A long flat worm that lives in the gut and infects people who eat raw or undercooked fish

noun
/ˌdɪfɪloʊˈboʊθriəm/

Specialized

: Diphyllobothrium

The doctor diagnosed the patient with a Diphyllobothrium infection after he reported eating raw fish.

Examples

Properly cooking freshwater fish can prevent Diphyllobothrium from infecting humans.
Symptoms of Diphyllobothrium infection may include abdominal pain and vitamin B12 deficiency.
The Diphyllobothrium infection can cause severe abdominal pain.
Many people are unaware of the risks associated with Diphyllobothrium infections.
The doctor diagnosed the patient with a Diphyllobothrium infection after he reported eating raw fish.
Symptoms of Diphyllobothrium infection may include abdominal pain and vitamin B12 deficiency.
Properly cooking freshwater fish can prevent Diphyllobothrium from infecting humans.

Surface Forms

Diphyllobothrium singular

Diphyllobothria plural

Etymology

Diphyllobothrium comes from Greek parts di- 'two', phyllo 'leaf', and bothrion 'small groove', which give the image of a head with two leaf-like grooves. These grooves help the worm hold on to the gut, so the name fits this tapeworm that can infect people who eat raw or undercooked fish.