microsporidium
/ˌmʌɪkrə(ʊ)spəˈrɪdɪəm/ /ˌmʌɪkrə(ʊ)spɒˈrɪdɪəm/Biology
noun
Any member of the protist phylum Microspora (formerly the suborder Microsporidia of sporozoans), comprising intracellular parasites of protozoans, invertebrates, and (chiefly poikilothermic) vertebrates, and including a few species that cause disease in immunocompromised humans; = microsporidian. Also (in form Microsporidia): the group comprising these organisms.
Origin
Late 19th century; earliest use found in American Naturalist. From scientific Latin Microsporidium from micro- + -sporidium.