sporozoite

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

noun

1. one of the minute, active bodies into which the spore of certain Sporozoa divides, each developing into an adult individual.

sporozoite

/ ˌspɒ-; ˌspɔːrəˈzəʊaɪt /

noun

1. any of numerous small mobile usually infective individuals produced in sporozoans by sporogony

sporozoite

/ spôr′ə-zō′īt′ /

1. Any of the minute, undeveloped apicomplexans produced by multiple fission of a zygote or spore, especially at the stage just before infection of a new host cell.

Word History and Origins

Origin of sporozoite¹

First recorded in 1885–90; Sporozo(a) + -ite ¹

Example Sentences

A mosquito bite delivers only about 10 “sporozoites,” the form of the parasite that can be transmitted.

From New York Times

Rather than target the parasite itself, the vaccine targets the sporozoite protein that helps the parasite find the liver.

From Salon

R21 and Mosquirix both target the malaria parasite in the sporozoite phase of its life cycle — the phase in which it enters the human body from its mosquito hosts.

From Scientific American

Mosquirix uses a piece of the parasite — a protein found only on sporozoites’ surface — in hopes of blocking the liver stage of infection.

From Seattle Times

The bite of an infected mosquito sends immature parasites called sporozoites into the bloodstream.

From Washington Times