echinococcus
Noun: 1. A genus of small tapeworms (cestodes) of the family Taeniidae. The larval stages of these parasites are the cause of a serious zoonotic disease called echinococcosis (hydatid disease) in humans and other mammals.
The word "echinococcus" is used primarily in medical, veterinary, and parasitological contexts to refer to the parasitic organism itself or the disease it causes. It is a technical term. * As the causative agent of a disease: "The patient was diagnosed with a cyst caused by Echinococcus." * In biological classification: "Echinococcus granulosus is the most common species."
- "The life cycle of echinococcus involves canines as definitive hosts and ungulates or humans as intermediate hosts."
- "Veterinarians monitor livestock for signs of echinococcus infection."
- "Public health campaigns focus on breaking the transmission cycle of echinococcus."
- The term is often used in its capitalized form () when referring to the genus in formal taxonomic writing.
- The disease caused by the larval stage is specifically called "echinococcosis" or "hydatid disease," not "echinococcus disease."
- Echinococcosis (n): The disease condition caused by the larval stage of the tapeworm.
- Hydatid (n): The fluid-filled larval cyst stage of the tapeworm, typically referring to that of .
- Tapeworm (this is a broader category; is a specific type of tapeworm)
- Cestode (the biological class for tapeworms)
The word "echinococcus" has one primary, specific meaning in biology and medicine. It does not have common idiomatic or figurative uses. Its usage is strictly literal and scientific.
- tapeworms whose larvae are parasitic in humans and domestic animals