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 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 When a host—humans included—consumes an oocyst, the spores are released and spread into the brain and muscles, forming new cysts. —

Byerik Stokstad, science.org, 24 Nov. 2022 As the only known hosts of the parasite, domesticated and feral felines then spread deadly strains into their environment through oocysts—egg-like structures teeming with millions of immature T. gondii—shed in feces. —

Meilan Solly, Smithsonian, 30 Aug. 2019 Forbes notes that rainwater carries contaminated cat excrement to the coast, sending oocysts flooding into sea otters’ habitats. —

Meilan Solly, Smithsonian, 30 Aug. 2019 The unsuspecting mammals also accidentally ingest oocysts when grooming or hunting down other food sources. —

Meilan Solly, Smithsonian, 30 Aug. 2019 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'oocyst.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.