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oocyst
(redirected from Oocysts)

   Also found in: Dictionary/thesaurus, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia 0.01 sec.
oocyst /oo·cyst/ (-sist) the encysted or encapsulated ookinete in the wall of a mosquito's stomach; also, the analogous stage in the development of any sporozoan.
o·o·cyst (-sst)
n.
A thick-walled structure in which sporozoan zygotes develop and that serves to transfer them to new hosts.

Oocyst
The egg form of the toxoplasmosis organism.
Mentioned in: Toxoplasmosis

oocyst
[ō′əsist]
Etymology: Gk, oon + kystis, bag
a stage in the development of sporozoa consisting of a zygote enclosed by cyst wall. Oocysts of malarial parasites are found in the stomachs of infected mosquitoes. Oocysts of toxoplasma organisms are contained in the feces of infected cats. Compare oocyte.

oocyst
the resistant stage of the life cycle of coccidial parasites. It contains a zygote and under appropriate conditions sporulates to become a mature infective oocyst. It may also remain infective for long periods in dry conditions.

oocyst patches
see oocyst plaques.
oocyst plaques
raised patches up to 0.5 inch diameter in small intestinal epithelium in goats and sheep caused by heavy infestation by coccidial oocysts.

oocyst
Public health The infectious stage of coccidian sporozoites–eg, Cryptosporidium parvum and others, which has a protective wall that facilitates survival in water and other environments


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