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Glite Dictionary
cysticercus

cysticercus

9.9
A small fluid-filled young tapeworm that lives in the meat of pigs
  • noun
  • /ˌsɪstəˈsɜrkəs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : cisticerco
  • The veterinarian identified a cysticercus in the muscle tissue of the infected pig.

Examples

  • Infected cattle may harbor a cysticercus that can pose a risk to humans if consumed.

  • After examining the samples, the researchers discovered a cysticercus in the liver of the sheep.

  • A viable cysticercus does not cause any inflammation but evokes a granulomatous foreign-body reaction after death and degeneration.

    Academic text (2009)

Synonyms

bladder worm
vscysticercus
  • Specialized
9.9

A soft sac in an animal that is filled with fluid and contains a young tapeworm

refers to the small fluid filled larva of tapeworms found in animals generally

Surface Forms

cysticercus singular
cysticerci plural

Etymology

Cysticercus comes from the Greek parts kystis 'bladder' and kerkos 'tail', and you can see the same root in the English word cyst meaning 'small sac'. It names a tiny, fluid-filled tapeworm larva that looks like a little 'bladder' or sac, so the origin helps you remember it is a small sac-like stage of the worm.