What is "haematozoa"

Haematozoon \H[ae]m`a*to*zo"["o]n\ (-t[-o]*z[=o]"[o^]n), n.; pl. H[ae]matozoa (-[.a]). [NL., fr. Gr. a"i^ma, a"i`matos, blood + zw^,on animal.] (Zo["o]l.) A parasite inhabiting the blood; esp.:

1. Certain species of nematodes of the genus Filaria, sometimes found in the blood of man, the horse, the dog, etc.

2. The trematode, Bilharzia h[ae]matobia, which infests the inhabitants of Egypt and other parts of Africa, often causing death.

n. (plural of haematozoon English)

See haematozoon

Haematozoa or Hematozoa is a general term that includes blood parasites, mainly protozoans. Well known examples include the malaria and trypanosoma parasites, but a large number of species are known to infect birds and are transmitted by arthropod vectors.