hypnozoite

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A dormant stage in the life cycle of some species of the malaria parasite Plasmodium (mainly) in the liver. It is formed directly (no multiplication takes place) from a sporozoite injected by the mosquito. However, not all of these inoculated sporozoites form hypnozoites. The reason(s) why some do and others don't is unknown.

Word forms

hypnozoite hypnozoites

Etymology

From hypno- + -zoite.

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