helminth
/ˈhɛlmɪnθ
/noun
A parasitic worm; a fluke, tapeworm, or nematode.The cnidarians (hydra, jellyfish, and sea anemones) and helminths have a sac-like digestive system with a single opening....
- The most common helminths are tapeworms and roundworms.
- Soil-transmitted helminth and schistosomes are great public health problems in several tropical and subtropical developing countries with poor socio-economic status and personal hygiene.
Derivatives
helminthic
/ adjective ...- Experiments conducted by Dr. David Elliott, et al at the University of Iowa using mice with experimental inflammatory bowel disease showed that helminthic worms protected the animals from this disease.
- The Ethiopians recommend that ‘deworming is a low-cost and feasible treatment in the setting of developing countries, where helminthic infections are widespread, and TB and HIV are rampant’.
- Large household size has been reported to increase the risk of helminthic infection, possibly due to increased contamination of the local environment, thereby increasing the chance of infection in the members of the household.
helminthoid
Origin
Mid 19th century: from Greek helmins, helminth- 'intestinal worm'.