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 Where flagella arise from. Kinetosome

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.

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 through 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 Trophozoite 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.

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 pH of the vagina at 4-4.5 and ordinarily this discourages infections.

Why is it Pathogenic in Females? Natural flora (bacteria ) keep the pH of the vagina at 4-4.5 and ordinarily this discourages infections. T. vaginalis can survive at a low pH.

Why is it Pathogenic in Females? Natural flora (bacteria ) keep the pH of the vagina at 4-4.5 and ordinarily this discourages infections. T. vaginalis can survive at a low pH. Once established it causes a shift toward alkalinity (pH 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 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 endocommensal  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.