1. A stage in the life cycle of certain parasitic protozoans, especially malaria parasites, that is produced by asexual reproduction and capable of infecting red blood cells.
Usage: technical; biology; parasitology

Examples

• Merozoites are released from infected red blood cells and go on to infect other cells.
• The malaria parasite produces thousands of merozoites during its asexual reproduction phase.
• Understanding merozoite biology is crucial for developing new antimalarial drugs.
• Merozoites circulate in the bloodstream after being released from the liver.
• The immune system targets merozoites to prevent further infection of red blood cells.