[ 'ʃɪstə(ʊ)ˌsəʊm ]
■ noun a parasitic flatworm which causes bilharzia in humans, infesting freshwater snails when immature and the blood vessels of birds and mammals when adult. [Genus Schistosoma .]
Origin
early 20th cent.: from mod. L. Schistosoma , from Gk skhistos 'divided' + sōma 'body'.