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trophozoite

trophozoite

1 9.9
A stage when a one-celled parasite feeds and grows inside a host
  • noun
  • /trəˈfōzəˌīt/
  • Specialized
: trofozoito
  • During observation, the scientist noted that the trophozoites were actively multiplying in the culture.

Examples

  • Trophozoites showed characteristic hemophagocytosis, which is specific for E. histolytica infection (Figure 2, panel A).

    Academic text (2012)
  • Figure 1: Dientamoeba fragilis trophozoites in a smear of pig feces after Giemsa staining, Italy, 2010-2011. Scale bar = 10 m.

    Academic text (2012)
  • Parasite count was measured by determining the proportion of parasitized erythrocytes or the number of trophozoites per microliter.

    Academic text (2014)
  • In the life cycle of Giardia, the active trophozoite stage is crucial for feeding and growth.

  • The laboratory discovered a high number of trophozoites in the infected tissue samples.

Surface Forms

trophozoite singular
trophozoites plural

Morphology

trophozoite = tropho + zoite

The term is built from Greek combining forms ('tropho-' = feeding, '-zoite' = animal/stage) that are not standalone English words and the meaning is specialized scientific terminology not derivable by a typical B1 learner from known English bases.

Etymology

Trophozoite comes from Greek parts: tropho- meaning 'nourish' or 'feed' and -zoite meaning 'animal' or 'living thing'. So a trophozoite is the active, feeding stage of a tiny parasite, the time when it grows and eats inside its host.