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trypanosome
noun
try·pano·some
tri-ˈpa-nə-ˌsōm
: any of a genus (Trypanosoma) of parasitic flagellate protozoans that infest the blood of various vertebrates including humans, are usually transmitted by the bite of an insect, and include some that cause serious diseases (such as sleeping sickness and Chagas disease)
Examples of trypanosome in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The trypanosome mostly inserts its DNA into parts of the human genome that are already mobile.
—Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 14 Feb. 2010
Millions of people in Latin America have been invade by a parasite - a trypanosome called Trypanosome cruzi.
—Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 14 Feb. 2010
Other complex parasites set up shop in the human body for long, persistent infections, including other species of trypanosome.
—Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 14 Feb. 2010
Animals that might harbor trypanosomes were hunted down.
—Carey Baraka, Quartz Africa, 26 Apr. 2020
The cause of the headaches, weakness and pain were trypanosomes, tiny parasites spread by the bite of the tsetste fly — a companion of the elephants.
—Washington Post, 30 Oct. 2019
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'trypanosome.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Dictionary Entries Near trypanosome
Cite this Entry
“Trypanosome.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trypanosome. Accessed 17 Sep. 2024.
Kids Definition
trypanosome
noun
try·pano·some
tri-ˈpan-ə-ˌsōm
: any of a genus of parasitic protozoans that infect the blood, are usually transmitted by the bite of an insect, and include some that cause serious diseases (as sleeping sickness)
Medical Definition
trypanosome
noun
try·pano·some
tri-ˈpan-ə-ˌsōm
: any flagellate of the genus Trypanosoma
More from Merriam-Webster on trypanosome
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about trypanosome
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