schistosomiasis

noun

schis·to·so·mi·a·sis | \ ˌshi-stə-sō-ˈmī-ə-səs

plural schistosomiases\ ˌshi-stə-sō-ˈmī-ə-ˌsēz

How to pronounce schistosomiases (audio)

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 fresh waters (such 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

Examples of schistosomiasis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In the case of schistosomiasis, Sierra Leone has had a national control plan in place for almost a decade. — The Economist, "How Sierra Leone is beating tropical diseases," 23 June 2018 Afraid of malaria and schistosomiasis and tick bite fever. — Blair Braverman, Condé Nast Traveler, "Dog Sledder Blair Braverman on Learning to Live With Lions and Pythons," 8 Mar. 2018 Other schistosomiasis researchers were critical of this point. — Heather Murphy, New York Times, "They’re Hosting Parasitic Worms in Their Bodies to Help Treat a Neglected Disease," 1 Mar. 2018 Dams have also caused an increase in schistosomiasis in many countries, because snails live in the reservoirs and irrigation channels. — Erik Stokstad, Science | AAAS, "Pesticides could hike risk of catching a parasitic worm," 14 July 2017 Schistosomiasis is a debilitating disease caused by a parasitic flatworm. — Erik Stokstad, Science | AAAS, "Pesticides could hike risk of catching a parasitic worm," 14 July 2017 Through his research and his work with diplomats and other international travelers, Dr. Wolfe became an authority on such exotic conditions as giardiasis and schistosomiasis, both of which are caused by parasites. — Matt Schudel, Washington Post, "Martin Wolfe, doctor specializing in tropical and travel medicine, dies at 82," 17 June 2017 He has been wracked by malaria, schistosomiasis and dysentery, lost in Amazonian jungles, stranded in the New Guinea highlands, and held up at gun point during military coups in West Africa and Suriname. — Mark Price, charlotteobserver, "NC ‘snake hunter’ who survived 12 deadly bites is killed - allegedly by his wife," 15 May 2017 King is already expanding his Robot Scientist fleet by producing Eve, which will autonomously design and screen drugs against malaria and schistosomiasis. — Lizzie Buchen, WIRED, "Robot Makes Scientific Discovery All by Itself," 2 Apr. 2009

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'schistosomiasis.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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The first known use of schistosomiasis was in 1906

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More Definitions for schistosomiasis

schistosomiasis

noun

schis·to·so·mi·a·sis | \ ˌshis-tə-sō-ˈmī-ə-səs

, ˌskis-

plural schistosomiases\ -ˌsēz

Medical Definition of schistosomiasis

: infestation with or disease caused by schistosomes specifically : a severe endemic disease of humans in much of Africa and parts of Asia and South America that is caused by any of three trematode worms of the genus Schistosoma (S. haematobium, S. mansoni, and S. japonicum) which multiply in snail intermediate hosts and are disseminated into freshwaters as furcocercous cercariae that bore into the body when it is in contact with infested water, migrate through the tissues to the visceral venous plexuses (as of the bladder or intestine) where they attain maturity, and cause much of their injury through hemorrhage and damage to tissues resulting from the passage of the usually spiny eggs to the intestine and bladder whence they pass out to start a new cycle of infection in snail hosts

— called also bilharzia, bilharziasis, snail fever

— compare swimmer's itch