Other Flagellated Protozoa Giardia duodenalis Spironucleus meleagridis Trichomonas

Other Flagellated Protozoa Giardia duodenalis Spironucleus meleagridis Trichomonas vaginalis and foetus Histomonas meleagridis

Giardia duodenalis • Trophozoite – Two nuclei – Four pair flagella – Adhesive discs • Cyst – Four nuclei in mature cysts – Four pair flagella, do not project out of cell • Lack mitochondria

Trophozoite and Cyst

Giardia duodenalis

Spironucleus meleagridis • Similar to Giardia duodenalis – Except no sucking discs – Infects galliform birds (chickens, turkey etc…) – May cause death in young birds – Life cycle similar to Giardia duodenalis

Trichomonadidae • Anterior tuft of flagella • Undulating membrane • Rigid axostyle

Trichomonas vaginalis • Venereal disease (trichomoniasis) – Both male and female • Hydrogenosomes – Analogous to mitochondria – Produce ATP • Treated with metronidazole

Tritrichomonas foetus • • Genital infection of cattle Causes early abortion (1 -16 weeks) May cause endometritis leading to sterility Evade immune response by secreting proteases

Histomonas meleagridis • Histomoniasis • Chickens, turkeys and other gallinaceous birds • No cyst form – Trophozoites cannot survive stomach acids • Cloacal drinking • Alteration of stomach acids

Histomonas meleagridis morphology • A – tissue form • B – early lumen form • C – mature lumen form with flagella

Heterakis gallinarum • Nematode intermediate host for Histomonas meleagridis • Earthworms are paratenic hosts for both