Trichinelliasis

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A parasitic disease caused by infection with the larvae of Trichinella roundworms, usually acquired by eating undercooked infected meat
2. An illness produced when Trichinella nematode larvae invade the muscles, typically after consuming raw or inadequately cooked pork or game
3. Infestation by microscopic roundworm larvae of the genus Trichinella, which spread through the body and lodge in muscle tissue

Etymology: Trichinellosis, the disease caused by parasitic roundworms, takes its name from the genus that causes it. "Trichinella" is a Modern Latin coinage built from Greek roots: "thrix" (hair) and "helix" (coil or spiral), a reference to the tiny worm's hair-like, coiled appearance. The genus name was given to the worms, and the disease was named after them. The suffix "-iasis" comes from Greek and is used in medicine to mean a condition or abnormal state caused by something. So "trichinelliasis" literally describes a condition produced by infection with "Trichinella." Other medical terms built the same way include "amoebiasis" and "ascariasis," each named for the organism responsible.

Synonyms: trichinosis, trichinellosis