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Glite Dictionary
coccidia

coccidia

9.9
Tiny single-celled parasites that live in animals and often cause diarrhea
  • noun
  • /kɒkˈɪdiə/
  • Specialized
translation icon : coccidia
  • Researchers are studying how coccidia affect farm animals.

Examples

  • Coccidia are coccidia that often cause disease in animals.

  • Veterinarians routinely check for coccidia in stool samples from young puppies and kittens.

  • Some species of coccidia can cause severe diarrhea in livestock.

  • The presence of coccidia is a common problem in crowded animal shelters.

  • The coccidia can cause severe intestinal issues in livestock.

  • The veterinarian explained that coccidia can be harmful to pets, especially puppies and kittens.

  • Farmers take precautions to prevent coccidia infections in their livestock.

Surface Forms

coccidia singular
coccidias plural
coccidiae plural

Morphology

coccidia = coccidium (semi-transparent) = coccidi + a

The plural form follows a Latin scientific plural pattern (coccidium → coccidia) that is regular in taxonomy but not intuitively obvious to average learners.

Etymology

Coccidia comes from the Greek word kokkion, which means 'small berry'. Because these parasites form tiny, round spores that look like little berries, the name fits these microscopic, single-celled parasites.