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Glite Dictionary
sporozoan

sporozoan

9.9
A single-celled parasite that makes spores to reproduce and often causes disease
  • noun
  • /ˌspɔːrəˈzoʊən/
  • Specialized
: esporozoario
  • The malaria parasite is a well-known type of sporozoan that infects humans through mosquito bites.

Examples

  • Some sporozoans can cause serious diseases in animals and humans.

  • Scientists study sporozoan life cycles to better understand how to prevent parasitic infections.

  • The sporozoan infects the host's cells.

  • Many sporozoans are responsible for diseases.

  • Scientists study sporozoan life cycles to better understand how to prevent parasitic infections.

  • Some sporozoans can cause serious diseases in animals and humans.

  • The malaria parasite is a well-known type of sporozoan that infects humans through mosquito bites.

Synonyms

protozoon
vssporozoan
  • Specialized
9.9

A single-celled living thing usually too small to see without a microscope

is parasitic and reproduces by forming spores and is more specialized

Surface Forms

sporozoan singular
sporozoans plural

Morphology

sporozoan = spore (semi-transparent) = sporo + zoan

The term is built from combining forms meaning 'spore' + 'animal'; learners who recognise 'spore' may partially infer the sense, but the scientific combining forms are specialized and not fully productive.

Etymology

The word sporozoan comes from Greek parts spora meaning 'seed' or 'spore' and zoon meaning 'animal', so it is like a 'spore-animal'. A helpful way to remember sporozoan is to think of a tiny animal that reproduces by making 'spores', which is why the word is used for parasites such as the malaria parasite.