prepatent period


pre·pa·tent pe·ri·od

in parasitology, the period equivalent to the incubation period of microbial infections; it is biologically different, however, because the parasite is undergoing developmental stages in the host.

prepatent period

A term of waning use for the “silent” period between the time an exogenous agent (specifically, a parasite) impacts on a living organism and its detectability in the new host; e.g., latent period.

pre·pa·tent pe·ri·od

(prē-pā'tĕnt pēr'ē-ŏd) parasitology The period interval to the incubation period of microbial infections; it varies biologically, however, because the parasite undergoes developmental stages in the host.