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leucocytozoan

leucocytozoan

9.9
A tiny parasite that lives in the blood cells of birds
  • noun
  • /ˌluːkoʊˈsaɪtəˌzoʊən/
  • Specialized
: leucocitozoario
  • The presence of leucocytozoan parasites can weaken birds and affect their survival rates.

Examples

  • Veterinarians study leucocytozoan infections to better understand avian diseases.

  • Researchers discovered a new species of leucocytozoan infecting migratory songbirds in the Amazon rainforest.

  • The leucocytozoan is known to infect various species of birds.

  • Researchers are studying the effects of leucocytozoans on bird populations.

  • Researchers discovered a new species of leucocytozoan infecting migratory songbirds in the Amazon rainforest.

  • The presence of leucocytozoan parasites can weaken birds and affect their survival rates.

  • Veterinarians study leucocytozoan infections to better understand avian diseases.

Synonyms

leucocytozoon
vsleucocytozoan
  • Specialized
9.9

A tiny parasite that lives in birds' blood and often makes them sick

is a general parasitic protozoan infecting bird blood not limited to a genus

Surface Forms

leucocytozoan singular

Morphology

leucocytozoan = leucocyte (semi-transparent) = leuco + cyto + zoan

Formed from the biomedical base 'leucocyte' + the technical suffix '-zoan' (animal); structure is compositional but relies on specialist combining forms unfamiliar to average learners.

Etymology

Leucocytozoan is made of Greek parts: leuco- 'white', cyto- 'cell', and -zoan 'animal'. So a leucocytozoan is a tiny animal parasite that lives in blood cells, often the 'white' blood cells, which is why the name points to parasites that infect birds' blood cells.