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290 GLOSSARY

Corticosteroids Involved in a wide range of physiologic Cysticercosis Infection with cysticerci in tissues of the body
reactions such as a response to stress, regulation of inflamma- that include subcutaneous, muscle, or central nervous system
tion, and the immune response to infection. tissues.
Crabs Crustaceans that live in marine environments and are Cytoplasm The part of the cell not including the membrane
capable of transmitted diseases contracted from water. and the nucleus; the cytoplasmic appearance may be smooth,
Crayfish Poorly cooked crabs or crayfish provide the basic rough, or with inclusions, etc.
way of contracting the lung fluke P. westermani, primarily in Cytoplasmic granules Ingested cells and materials, or-
parts of Asia. ganelles, secretory inclusions such as enzymes, proteins
Crohn’s disease Inflammation of the intestine, espe- and acids, nutrient inclusions (glycogen, lipids), pigmented
cially the small intestine, with swelling, redness, and loss of granules.
normal bowel functions. Inflammation may be caused Cytostome Mouth-like opening of certain protozoa (the term
by the immune system attacking the body itself instead of stoma means “mouth.”
foreign cells. Cytotoxicity Cellular immunity where natural killer (NK)
Crustaceans A small crustacean, the copecod, is a diet of fish cells attack invading organisms; certain chemicals are also
and in this way may infect the fish with parasites which are in cytotoxic, such as medications for eradicating parasites.
turn eaten by humans.
Cryotherapy Destruction of tissue by use of extremely cold D
temperatures.
Cryptosporidium Protozoans comprised of at least four Daughter forms The process of mitosis produces two
species; waterborne parasites found in dirty ponds with run- genetically identical cells to that of the parent cell, containing
off from areas that cattle frequent; also found frequently in the same type and numbers of chromosomes.
immunosuppressed individuals, such as people with AIDS; Dead-end hosts Organisms termed as dead-end hosts are
chlorination does not alleviate the contamination; large out- those from which infectious agents are not transmittable to
breaks sometimes occur where public water system is contami- other susceptible hosts (maybe accidental hosts).
nated with sewage. Deer flies Genus for a biting fly that transmits parasitic dis-
CT-scans Computerized tomography (CT) combines a series eases to humans and animals.
of X-ray views from various angles to produce cross-sections Deer fly fever Highly infectious disease of rodents, in partic-
of the bones and soft tissues inside the body. ular squirrels and rabbits, that may be transmitted to humans
Culex Genus of mosquito important as a vector for important by ticks or flies or by handling infected animals.
disease organisms that include the West Nile virus, various Deer tick Includes several ticks of the genus Ixodes that are
microfilaria, Japanese and St. Louis encephalitis, as well as parasitic for deer and other herd animals; ticks transmit infec-
avian malaria. tious organisms of febrile diseases.
Cutaneous larva Skin disease in humans that is caused by DEET Abbreviation for diethyltoluamide, an extremely
larvae of some nematode parasites; migrans most common effective insect repellent useful in protection from vectors of
organism is that of Ancylostoma braziliense in North and parasites.
South America. Defecate Act of elimination of solid waste products from the
Cyclophyllidean Cyclophyllidea is the order for the tape- body.
worms (cyclophyllidean) that includes the most important Definitive host This is the organism in which a parasite
cestode parasites of both humans and domesticated animals. passes its adult and sexual stages of existence.
Cyclops Copecod that is implicated in the transmission of Dehydration A condition that occurs when a body contains
D. medinensis organism contracted by drinking water contain- less fluid than is adequate; can result from illness, weather con-
ing a copecod called a Cyclops. ditions to which exposed, inadequate intake, and certain medi-
Cyclosporiasis Infection with the protozoan Cyclospora cations that cause loss of body fluids.
cayetanensis, a pathogen transmitted by fecal matter or feces- Dermacentor A genus of tick (D. andersoni and D. variabilis)
contaminated fresh produce and water. belonging to the order Acarina and family Ixodidae.
Cyst Also means “bladder” or open cyst; may also be a sack Dermatitis Inflammatory skin rash usually accompanied by
that encloses an organism during a dormant period, such as redness and itching.
in the case of certain parasites that would be destroyed in the Desiccated To dry out thoroughly; commonly used in
stomach acid if not encysted. laboratories as a freeze-dry process to preserve specimens and
Cyst form A stage of a protozoan that is nonmotile and is sur- control samples.
rounded by a protective wall; stage that is readily transmitted Deworming Procedure for ridding an animal of worms.
to new hosts; the trophozoite stage is motile but the organism Diagnostic stage The stage of development where an
may be transformed between these two stages (cyst and tro- organism is most easily identified; (i.e., cyst or trophozoite),
phozoite) readily. larvae or ova.
Cysticercus Refers to the larval form of a tapeworm, con- Diarrhea Extreme loss of fluids through frequent defecation
sisting of a single scolex that is enclosed in a bladder-like cyst of watery feces; often related to infectious process including
which is also called a hydatid cyst. certain parasitic infections.