schistosome

From translingual Schistosoma, from Ancient Greek σχιστός (skhistós, “cleaved, divided”) +‎ σῶμα (sôma, “body”).

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈʃɪ.stə(ʊ)ˌsəʊm/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈʃɪ.stəˌsoʊm/, /ˈskɪ.stəˌsoʊm/

schistosome (plural schistosomes)

1. (zoology) A parasitic flatworm which needs two hosts to complete its life cycle. The immature form infests freshwater snails and the adult lives in the blood vessels of birds and mammals, causing bilharzia in humans.

   Synonym: blood fluke

• stichosomes