noun
- a stage in the life cycle of certain parasitic protozoans during which the organism undergoes multiple nuclear divisions followed by cell division to produce many offspring
Usage: biology; parasitology
Examples
- The malaria parasite develops into a schizont within the red blood cell.
- Multiple merozoites are released when the schizont ruptures.
- Researchers studied the schizont stage to understand parasite reproduction.
- The schizont contains numerous nuclei before cell division occurs.
- Antimalarial drugs target the schizont phase of the parasite’s life cycle.