Flagellates Old Taxonomy PHYLUM SARCOMASTIGOPHORA SUBPHYLUM MASTIGOPHORA CLASS

Flagellates Old Taxonomy: PHYLUM SARCOMASTIGOPHORA SUBPHYLUM MASTIGOPHORA CLASS ZOOMASTIGOPHOREA New Taxonomy: Flagellates are placed in 5 PHYLA 2 groups of parasites: • intestinal and reproductive track flagellates (Chapter 6) • blood and tissue-dwelling flagellates (Chapter 5)

General Flagellate Anatomy • Pellicle- Combination of plasma membrane and thin, translucent, secreted envelope. • This gives the flagellate a more defined shape, they are stiff but still flexible, therefore they have a fixed shape.

General Flagellate Anatomy • Flagella- used for locomotion; present/not; how long are they, how many present. • Flagella arise from granules and may be free (unattached) or attached.

General Flagellate Anatomy • Basal granule • Blepharoplast • Kinetosome } Where flagella arise from.

General Flagellate Anatomy • Undulating Membrane. Thin line of extending plasma membrane which flagellum attaches to before becoming a free flagellum.

General Flagellate Anatomy • Axostyle- Tube like organelle, may or may not be present. • It arises from the kinetosome.

Axostyle

General Flagellate Anatomy • Parabasal body- This is a Golgi Body located near the kinetosome, from which the parabasal filament runs to the kinetosome. PB PF

General Flagellate Anatomy • Kinetoplast-A conspicuous part of a mitochondrion in some flagellates found near the kinetosome.

Will Look at Intestinal and Reproductive Track Flagellates • Trichomonas vaginalis (pathogenic)- occurs in reproductive and urinary system of people. • Trichomonas tenax- endocommensal in mouth (tooth sockets). • Pentatrichomonas hominis- endocommensal in large intestine and cecum.

Will Look at Intestinal and Reproductive Track Flagellates • Chilomastix mesnili (endocommensal)lives in the large intestine. • Giardia duodenalis (pathogenic)- small intestine.

General Biology • Absorption of organic material thru pellicle. • Some engage in pinocytosis. • T. tenax and T. vaginalis- Cytoplasm seem to be free of food vacuoles. • P. hominis- Have some food vacuoles in cytoplasm. • C. mesnili- Has an oral grove to sweep in food; has a cytostome.

Merthiolate-Iodine-Formalin (MIF) • Widely used technique. • Reagents that serve to fix cysts, trophs, and even helminth eggs and aid in identification of parasites.

Merthiolate-Iodine-Formalin (MIF)

Intestinal and Reproductive Track Flagellates of People • Not very significant because they are not very pathogenic or life threatening.

Trichomonas vaginalis • Phylum Parabasalia: With parabasal fibers originating at kinetosomes; axostyle non-motile; up to thousands of flagella.

Trichomonas vaginalis • Trophozite is the only stage present in the life cycle. • They are 7 -32µm long by 5 -12µm wide.

Trichomonas vaginalis • It lives in the reproductive and urinary system of people.

Trichomonas vaginalis • It lives in the reproductive and urinary system of people. • More specifically it is found in the vagina and urethra of women, and in the prostate, seminal vesicles, and urethra of men.

Trichomonas vaginalis • It lives in the reproductive and urinary system of people. • More specifically it is found in the vagina and urethra of women, and in the prostate, seminal vesicles, and urethra of men. • It is more common in women, and hard to find in men because most are asymptomatic.

Trichomonas vaginalis • It is cosmopolitan in distribution, however prevalence is not uniform because of sanitary and hygiene habits (depends on surroundings). – 20 -40% in Women – 15% in Men

Trichomonas vaginalis • It is pathogenic and causes Vaginitis.

Trichomonas vaginalis • It is pathogenic and causes Vaginitis. • Suffix means “inflamed” or “inflammation of “ • So inflammation of the vagina.

Trichomonas vaginalis • Also can be called Trichomoniasis.

Trichomonas vaginalis • Also can be called Trichomoniasis

Trichomonas vaginalis • Also can be called Trichomoniasis. • Emphasis on a organism. • Etiological agent organism that causes something. Remember the parasite is not a disease. The disease is the consequence of the parasites pathology.

Symptoms • Usually none. • Particularly in males. They don’t show symptoms. • In females it ranges from: chaffing, itching, frothing/clear/creamy discharge that is profuse from vagina (leukorrhea).

Pathology • Eventually females get a disintegration of vaginal epithelial lining.

Why is it Pathogenic in Females? • Natural flora (bacteria ) keep the p. H of the vagina at 4 -4. 5 and ordinarily this discourages infections.

Why is it Pathogenic in Females? • Natural flora (bacteria ) keep the p. H of the vagina at 44. 5 and ordinarily this discourages infections. • T. vaginalis can survive at a low p. H.

Why is it Pathogenic in Females? • Natural flora (bacteria ) keep the p. H of the vagina at 44. 5 and ordinarily this discourages infections. • T. vaginalis can survive at a low p. H. • Once established it causes a shift toward alkalinity (p. H 5 -6) which further encourages its growth.

Pathogenic? • There is a tendency to explain stillbirths, spontaneous abortions, morbidity to women who have vaginitis. • No real studies done on this so dealing with correlations.

Trichomonas foetus You are not responsible for the 9 topics for this parasite!

Trichomonas foetus Initial vaginitis 2 -3 wks invades uterus and attacks fetus about 7 wks gestation. You are not responsible for the 9 topics for this parasite!

Trichomonas foetus • Transmitted to cows during coitus. • Most cows self-cure after developing immunity. • Bulls however are permanent carriers and sources of infection. You are not responsible for the 9 topics for this parasite!

Trichomonas foetus • To check if a herd is infected with T. foetus, the most reliable way is to test bulls. You are not responsible for the 9 topics for this parasite!

Trichomonas foetus • To check if a herd is infected with T. foetus, the most reliable way is to test bulls. • A sample is taken from the back areas of the penis and inner sheath by either scraping with a pipette (dry method) or flushing with sterile saline (wet method). You are not responsible for the 9 topics for this parasite!

Trichomonas vaginalis Treatment • Flagyl- 3 times a day for 4 -5 days. • Reinfection can happen almost immediately. • Vaginal smears to see if infected for diagnosis. • Prognosis full recovery (100%).

Trichomonas vaginalis Epidemiology • Sexual contact. • Soiled clothing/linens; sharing of wash cloth, clothing, etc. • T. vaginalis can live in moist clothing for one day!

Trichomonas vaginalis Epidemiology • Also seems to show up in small children: so probably not transmitted sexually. • The role of toilets? Feasible but no real evidence.

Two other species of Trichomonas occur in humans Pentatrichomonas hominis

Trichomonas tenax – Habitat is in the mouth; sockets of teeth; gums. – Transmitted orally (kissing; sharing food eating or drinking utensils). – Associated with peridontal disease, mucous in mouth, but it does not cause this. – This is an opportunist if conditions are right it is easier for it to infect.

Trichomonas hominis = Pentatrichomonas hominis – Non-pathogenic; endocommensal. – Found in large intestine/cecum. – Ingestion of troph in contaminated water. – Features: Undulating membrane & free flagella. – Has 5 anterior flagella.

Chilomastix mesnili – Non-pathogenic; endocommensal. – Trophs and cysts in the life cycle. – Lives in the cecum. – Divides by binary fission. – Water borne parasite infected by contaminated water.

P. hominis and C. mesnili • Even though they are not pathogenic and endocommensal, their presence indicates poor hygiene practices and sanitation. • Because of this need to be able to distinguish these from pathogenic organisms.

Chilomastix mesnili • TROPHOZOITE - 6 -24 µm long by 3 -20 µm wide. • 4 flagella arise from kinetosomes at anterior end; 3 flagella extend anteriorly, 1 extends into the cytostome (flagella are difficult to see in stained trophozoites).

Chilomastix mesnili • CYST is lemon-shaped; 6 to 10 µm in diameter. • Contains single nucleus, cytosome, and retracted flagella.