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GLOSSARY 289

hookworm anemia are common causes of cardiac failure in the Ciliates Former class of protozoa that move by use of cilia
tropics. (hairlike projections).
Carnivores Animals whose diets are chiefly meat; scavengers Clade Group of related organisms that share certain genes;
and hunters. also refers to a genetically distinct strain of a microorganism.
Carriers Human or animal that harbors a pathogen which Clay Natural earthy material that is formable when wet; con-
may be parasitic and does not exhibit symptoms of an illness sist of fine earth particles and includes hydrated silicates of
from the organism. aluminum.
Cartilaginous Structural support from cartilage within Clindomycin Antibiotic used in the treatment of anaerobic
chiefly a lumen (tube). bacteria infections but may be used to treat malaria as well as
Caudal Tail-like structure or position near the end of an organ some other protozoal diseases.
or at the hindmost area of an organism. Clononorchiasis Disease resulting from infestation with a
Cellulose Structural component of the primary cell wall of liver fluke (Clonorchis sinensis) from eating raw fish; invades
green plants and many forms of algae; undigestible by humans. bile ducts of the liver and may cause edema (swelling), liver en-
CDCP Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. largement (splenomegaly), and often diarrhea.
Cephalic ganglion Solid nervous tissue as a cluster that Coccidia A sporozoan of the order Coccidia; may be para-
contains many cell bodies and nerve synapses and frequently sitic in the digestive tracts of certain animals and a cause of
enclosed in a tissue sheath; may function as “brain” of small coccidiosis.
organisms; found in invertebrates and vertebrates. Coccidiomycosis Coccidiodomycosis is a disease caused by
Cercaria Free-swimming stage of life cycle for some flatworms the spores of the fungus, Coccidioides immitis, which grows on
and roundworms; often parasitize snails and mollusks as inter- desert mouse droppings; also called coccidiosis or San Joaquin
mediate hosts before entering final host. (pronounced Wah keen) Valley fever.
Cerebral cysticercosis Infection primarily of the brain or Coenurus larva Taenia sp. larval form that normally infect
spinal cord with the larval forms of the genus Taenia, which is rodents; but the coenurus larvae has also been reported in
primarily Taenia solium in humans. Africa as infecting humans; one case reported in Texas from
Cestode Group of parasitic flatworms commonly called Mexican visitor.
tapeworms. Colonoscopy Endoscopic examination of the colon and the
Cestodiasis Infection with tapeworms. distal part of the small bowel with a fiber optic camera.
Chagas’s disease May be called American trypanosomiasis, Commensal A term literally meaning “eating at the same
and includes North and South America; caused by infection table,” which refers to parasitic relationships with the host;
with a protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. neither harms the other and one organism gains a benefit such
Charcot-Leyden Crystallized structures of varying sizes as nutrition.
that are found in feces, sputum, crystals and body tissues of Common name Term used to identify an organism or ob-
those with helminth infestations; originate from white blood ject that does not include the scientific name of genus and
cells called eosiniphils and that are found as an immune re- species.
sponse in allergic infections and parasitic infections. Congenital Disease existing at birth is a congenital disease;
Chelicerae Mouth parts of certain spiders (arachnids), horse- may be genetic in origin.
shoe crabs; chelicerae of spiders are pointed appendages for Conjunctivitis Inflammation of the conjunctival membrane,
grasping food or prey serve as chewing mandibles found in or conjunctiva (mucus membrane) of the eye or eyes.
other arthropods. Constipation Condition of the digestive system where a per-
Chiggers Larvae of a type of mite found in tall grass and son has difficulty expelling hard feces.
weeds, and whose bites cause severe itching; scratching may Contractile vacuoles Organelles (little organs) that pump
result in secondary bacterial infections. accumulated fluids from protozoa (unicellular organisms) to
Chigoes The chigoe flea, the smallest known flea, is also regulate internal pressure.
called a “jigger” and is a parasitic arthropod found in tropical Copecod Small crustaceans found in the sea and most fresh-
climates, especially South America and the West Indies. water habitats; drinking water containing a copecod that is
Chloramphenicol Belongs to group of medicines called an- infected with a certain parasite, such as D. meninensis. The
tibiotics; used for infections that are nonresponsive to other infective larvae from the intestine of the copecod are liber-
antibiotics; may be carcinogenic (cancer-causing). ated into the body of the host, and make their way to the deep
Chlorosis Type of chronic anemia, primarily of young women, tissues.
accompanied by a greenish-yellow skin discoloration; may be Coplin jar Wide-mouthed glass jars with interior walls that
associated with deficiency in iron and protein in part caused are grooved and are used primarily for staining slides contain-
by parasitic infections. ing blood smears or tissue sections.
Chromatin Nuclear components that stain when appropriate Coprolites Also known as a coprolith; is fossilized solid ani-
staining materials and techniques are employed. mal wastes that give evidence of intestinal infections, diet, etc.
Chromatoid bodies Bar-shaped inclusions in the cytoplasm Coracidium Eggs of the tapeworm are passed generally
that are stained but are not a part of the nuclear material, such through feces and hatch in the water; the first larval stage, the
as chromatin. coracidium, is produced from this hatching.