METOXENY Meaning and
Definition
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Metoxeny is a biological term that is primarily used in the field of parasitology. It describes a unique phenomenon where a parasite undergoes a series of reproductive or developmental stages in different hosts, usually involving more than two species. This complex life cycle often requires the parasite to exploit a succession of hosts in order to complete its life cycle and reproduce successfully.
The term metoxeny is derived from the Greek words "meta," meaning change or transformation, and "xenos," which translates to host. It generally refers to parasitic organisms, such as certain helminths or protozoans, that exhibit a multi-host life cycle. During metoxeny, these parasites typically alternate between different hosts, often taking advantage of each host's physiological and ecological characteristics to fulfil specific developmental stages.
This phenomenon is typically observed in parasites that require different hosts to meet their nutritional, reproductive, or protective needs at various stages of their life cycle. For instance, certain parasitic worms may begin their life cycle in an intermediate host, where they develop from larval to adult stages, before being transmitted to a definitive host where they reach sexual maturity. Each host plays a critical role in facilitating the parasite's survival and propagation while ensuring transmission to the next host.
Understanding metoxeny is essential in comprehending the intricacies of parasitic relationships, host-parasite coevolution, and disease transmission dynamics. The study of metoxeny provides valuable insights into the complex interplay between parasites and their hosts, shedding light on strategies that parasites employ to complete their life cycles and persist within ecosystems.
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1. Heterecism. 2. Change of host by a parasite.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for METOXENY
- netoxeny
- ketoxeny
- jetoxeny
- mwtoxeny
- mstoxeny
- mdtoxeny
- mrtoxeny
- m4toxeny
- m3toxeny
- meroxeny
- mefoxeny
- megoxeny
- meyoxeny
- me6oxeny
- me5oxeny
- metkxeny
- metlxeny
- metpxeny
- met0xeny
- met9xeny
Etymology of METOXENY
The word "metoxeny" is derived from the Greek roots "meta" meaning "change" and "xenos" meaning "stranger" or "guest".
In etymology, "meta-" is a prefix often indicating change, transformation, or beyond. "Xenos" is a Greek word that refers to a stranger, guest, or foreigner. When combined, "meta" and "xenos" in "metoxeny" create a term that describes the phenomenon or condition of changing or transforming into a stranger or foreigner.
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