Definition

A very small larval stage of a type of parasitic worm that can cause diseases in humans and animals.

Example

Microfilaria are often found in the blood of infected individuals and can be transmitted by mosquito bites.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of microfilaria?

Yeah, isn't that the larval stage of a filarial worm?

Exactly! I read that they can cause some serious health issues.

That's pretty scary; I had no idea they were so small yet so dangerous.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Microfilaria → It is formed from "micro-" (from Greek "mikros", meaning small) and "filaria" (from Latin "filaria", meaning thread). The word "microfilaria" refers to small, thread-like larvae of certain parasitic worms.

Memory Tip

Think of 'small' ('micro-') and 'thread' ('filaria') to remember that microfilaria are tiny, thread-like larvae.

Visually Confused Words