schistosomiasis

schis·to·so·mi·a·sis

noun \ˌshis-tə-sō-ˈmī-ə-səs\

plural schis·to·so·mi·a·ses\-ˌsēz\

Definition of SCHISTOSOMIASIS

: infestation with or disease caused by schistosomes; specifically : a severe endemic disease of humans in Africa and parts of Asia and South America that is contracted when cercariae released into freshwaters (as rivers) by a snail intermediate host penetrate the skin and that is marked especially by blood loss and tissue damage —called also snail fever

Origin of SCHISTOSOMIASIS

New Latin, from Schistosoma

First Known Use: 1906

Rhymes with SCHISTOSOMIASIS

elephantiasis, hypochondriasis