Hemocytozoon

/ˌhiːmoʊˌsaɪtəˈzoʊɑːn/ noun

Definition

Any parasitic organism or microorganism that lives or reproduces within blood cells.

Etymology

From Greek 'haima' (blood) + 'kytos' (cell) + 'zoon' (animal). The term was coined to describe parasites like the malaria parasite that invades red blood cells.

Kelly Says

The malaria parasite is a hemocytozoon that invades your red blood cells and multiplies inside them, eventually bursting them and causing the fever and chills of malaria—it's been killing humans for millennia and remains one of the deadliest parasites on Earth.

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