oocyst
noun
oo·cyst
ˈō-ə-ˌsist 
: zygote
specifically
: a sporozoan zygote undergoing sporogenous development
Examples of oocyst in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Free-range animals are more prone to pick up infectious Toxoplasma oocysts in outdoor pastures and water sources, which have a higher likelihood of being contaminated with cat feces.
—
Bill Sullivan, The Conversation, 10 July 2024
Changing the litter box daily ensures that the oocysts will not become a danger.
—Bill Sullivan, Discover Magazine, 2 Jan. 2024
After infection, hardy, thick-walled forms of the parasites (oocysts) are shed in feces.
—Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 26 Oct. 2023
What is certain is that people can become infected with Toxoplasma through oocysts expelled by cats.
—Bill Sullivan, Discover Magazine, 2 Jan. 2024
When an infected or recently sick swimmer takes a dip, oocysts can enter the pool.
—Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 26 Oct. 2023
Once released, an oocyst can persist in soil or water for years.
—Gustavo Arrizabalaga and Bill Sullivan, Scientific American, 1 Mar. 2015
Southern sea otters are commonly exposed through their diet, eating clams and other filter-feeding invertebrates that contain the oocysts.
—Byerik Stokstad, science.org, 22 Mar. 2023
The oocyst stage is the bottleneck in this process.
—Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 17 July 2012
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Bill Sullivan, The Conversation, 10 July 2024
Changing the litter box daily ensures that the oocysts will not become a danger.
—Bill Sullivan, Discover Magazine, 2 Jan. 2024
After infection, hardy, thick-walled forms of the parasites (oocysts) are shed in feces.
—Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 26 Oct. 2023
What is certain is that people can become infected with Toxoplasma through oocysts expelled by cats.
—Bill Sullivan, Discover Magazine, 2 Jan. 2024
When an infected or recently sick swimmer takes a dip, oocysts can enter the pool.
—Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 26 Oct. 2023
Once released, an oocyst can persist in soil or water for years.
—Gustavo Arrizabalaga and Bill Sullivan, Scientific American, 1 Mar. 2015
Southern sea otters are commonly exposed through their diet, eating clams and other filter-feeding invertebrates that contain the oocysts.
—Byerik Stokstad, science.org, 22 Mar. 2023
The oocyst stage is the bottleneck in this process.
—Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 17 July 2012
Cite this Entry
“Oocyst.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oocyst. Accessed 20 May. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
oocyst
noun
oo·cyst
ˈō-ə-ˌsist
: zygote
specifically
: a sporozoan zygote undergoing sporogenous development
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