Chilomastix

A genus of protozoan flagellates parasitic in the large intestine of humans and other primates, and in many other mammals, birds, amphibia, and reptiles; it is ordinarily nonpathogenic, but one species, C. mesnili, may be an occasional cause of diarrhea in children. [chilo- + G. mastix, whip]

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Chi·lo·mas·tix .kī-lō-'mas-tiks n a genus of pear-shaped protozoans of the subphylum Mastigophora possessing three flagella and usu. occurring commensally in the intestines of various vertebrates and including one (C. mesnili) that occurs as a nonpathogenic parasite in the cecum and colon of humans

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Chi·lo·mas·tix (ki″lo-masґtiks) [chilo- + Gr. mastix whip] a genus of parasitic protozoa of the order Retortamonadida, having three flagella and a single nucleus with an adjacent cytostome; they inhabit the intestines of numerous different types of vertebrates. Species are normally nonpathogenic, but C. mesniґli occasionally causes watery diarrhea.