sporozoan

[ spawr-uh-zoh-uhn, spohr- ]

noun

1. any parasitic spore-forming protozoan of the phylum (or class) Sporozoa, several species of which, as plasmodia, cause malaria.

adjective

1. Also sporo·zoal. belonging or pertaining to the Sporozoa.

sporozoan

/ ˌspɔːrəˈzəʊən; ˌspɒ- /

noun

1. any parasitic protozoan of the phylum Apicomplexa (or Sporozoa ), characterized by a complex life cycle, part of which is passed in the cells of the host, and the production of asexual spores: includes the malaria parasite See plasmodium

adjective

1. of or relating to sporozoans

sporozoan

/ spôr′ə-zō′ən /

1. Any of numerous parasitic protozoans now classified as apicomplexans .

Word History and Origins

Origin of sporozoan¹

First recorded in 1885–90; Sporozo(a) + -an

Example Sentences

While regarding the organism as the cause of the disease, Laveran did not at once recognize its animal and Sporozoan nature, but considered it rather as a vegetable, and termed it Oscillaria malariae.

From Project Gutenberg

EDITOR’S NOTE: We now know that a single-celled sporozoan of the Plasmodium genus causes malaria.

From Scientific American

It is probably not a bacterial parasite but very likely a Protozoan, and certain specialists have even shown by the study of all the available data that it almost certainly belongs to the Sporozoan genus Spirocheta.

From Project Gutenberg

Others suffer more or less from the attacks of various Sporozoan parasites.

From Project Gutenberg

Best account of this group, list of Sporozoan hosts.

From Project Gutenberg