microsporidium

1 9.9

A tiny parasite that infects insects and other animals

noun
/ˌmaɪkroʊspəˈrɪdiəm/

Specialized

: microsporidium

The microsporidium infects the host's cells, leading to serious health issues in insects.

Examples

Only two other cases of sinusitis involving this particular species of microsporidium (Septata intestinalis) have been reported previously.

Academic text (1998)
Likewise, two HGT events seem to protect the microsporidium Antonospora locustae from oxidative and ultraviolet light-induced damage 124, 125.

Academic text (2018)
Research has shown that the microsporidium can be transmitted through contaminated food and water.
Scientists are studying how the microsporidium affects the reproduction of various insect species.

Synonyms

micro-organism

vsmicrosporidium

17 3.9

A very small living thing like bacteria or fungi that you can only see with a microscope

is a specific tiny parasitic organism that infects insects and other animals

microsporidian

vsmicrosporidium

Specialized

9.9

A very small parasite that lives in and kills host animal cells, often in insects and fish

is a tiny parasite infecting insects and other animals not defined by spore formation

haplosporidian

vsmicrosporidium

Specialized

9.9

A very small living thing that lives inside and harms sea animals like crabs and oysters

belongs to a different parasitic group that mainly infects insects and similar animals

Surface Forms

microsporidium singular

microsporidia plural

Morphology

microsporidium = sporidium (opaque) = micro + sporidium

Although the prefix micro- contributes the sense of 'small', the full term is a specialized biological label whose meaning is not straightforwardly recoverable for an average learner.

Etymology

Microsporidium comes from Greek parts micro- 'small', spore 'seed', and the ending -idium 'small thing'. Think of a tiny seed that spreads; that's why a microsporidium is a very small parasite that spreads by spores.