ˌplazməˈdīəˌdē noun plural
Usage: capitalized
Etymology: New Latin, from Plasmodium, type genus + -idae
: a family of sporozoans (order Haemosporidia) that comprises the malaria parasites, is distinguished by alternation between the blood system of vetebrates and the digestive system of mosquitoes, and is usually held to include a single genus ( Plasmodium ) — see laverania