any parasitic protozoan of the phylum Apicomplexa (or Sporozoa), characterized by a complex life cycle, part of which is passed in the cells of the host, and the production of asexual spores: includes the malaria parasite
plasmodium (sense 2)
adjective
2.
of or relating to sporozoans
sporozoan in American English
(ˌspɔrəˈzoʊən)
noun
1.
any of a class (Sporozoa) of parasitic protozoans that usually pass through phases of both sexual and asexual generation, frequently in different hosts, during which sporogenesis takes place, includingthe organisms that cause malaria and Texas fever
: also ˌsporoˈzoon (ˌspoʊroʊˈzoʊˌɑn; ˌspoʊroʊˈzoʊən; ˌspɔrəˈzoʊɑn; ˌspɔrəˈzoʊən)Word forms: pluralˌsporoˈzoa (ˌspoʊroʊˈzoʊə)