Digenea

/daɪˈdʒɛniə/ noun

Definition

A class of parasitic flukes that require two different host animals to complete their life cycle.

Etymology

From di- (two) + -genea (origin/generation), from Greek genos (origin). Named for these parasites' requirement of two different hosts during their complex life stages.

Kelly Says

Digenea parasites perform an evolutionary magic trick—they infect fish, snails, and humans in sequence, each stage perfectly timed to exploit its host's biology like a prewritten script.

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