schistosome noun. ['skɪstǝ(ʊ)sǝʊm] E20.
[mod. Latin Schistosoma (see below), from Greek skhistos (see SCHIST) + sōma body: see -SOME³.]
Zoology. Any of various parasitic trematodes of the genus Schistosoma and family Schistosomatidae of which the early stages occur in freshwater snails and the adults are parasitic in the blood vessels of birds and mammals including man; a blood fluke. Cf. BILHARZIA.

■ schisto'somal adjective M20.

■ schistosomiasis [-'mʌɪǝsɪs] noun, pl.-ases [-ǝsi:z], (Medicine) disease caused by infection with blood flukes of the genus Schistosoma, characterized by chronic symptoms esp. of the digestive and urinary systems, and sometimes by fever E20.

■ schistosomi'cidal adjective M20.

■ schisto'somicide noun (Pharmacology) a substance or drug that destroys schistosomes M20.

■ schistosomule [-'sɒmju:l] noun = schistosomulum M20.

■ schistosomulum [-'sɒmjʊlǝm] noun, pl. -ula, a blood fluke of the genus Schistosoma which has entered its adult host but is not yet mature E20.

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