Schistosome (Noun)
Meaning
Flatworms parasitic in the blood vessels of mammals.
Classification
Nouns denoting animals.
Examples
- Schistosomes are responsible for the disease schistosomiasis, which is a significant public health burden in many tropical and subtropical regions.
- The schistosome's life cycle involves both aquatic snails and mammals as hosts, with the parasite undergoing various developmental stages in each.
- Researchers have developed several vaccines against schistosomes, but so far none has proven effective in humans.
- Schistosomes can cause a range of symptoms, from mild skin itching to life-threatening liver and intestinal damage.
- A schistosome infection typically occurs when people come into contact with contaminated water containing the parasite's larvae.