Tritrichomonas foetus

Tritrichomonas foetus

Introduction

• Venereally transmitted

• Cattle protozoa

• Lives in the uterus and preputial cavity of bulls

• Occurs worldwide

• Related species cause diarrhoea in cats

• Fatal diseases in wild birds caused by T. gallinae
  • Necrotic, yellow nodules in the crop and oesophagus
  • Infection is usually fatal
  • Turkeys and chickens may also become infected

• Non-pathogenic species affect guinea-pigs

Recognition

• 10-25μm long

• Pear-shaped

• 3 anterior flagella and 1 posterior flagellum forming an undulating membrane

• Body is supported by an axostyle
  • Hyaline rod
  • Projects posteriorly

• Single nucleus present

Life Cycle

• Simple

• Reproduce by binary fission

• Transmission via direct contact

• Occurs in the digestive tract of other species
  • Usually as commensal organisms

• T. gallinae is pathogenic in pigeons
  • Inhabits the crop

Trichomonas foetus A venereal infection of cattle that can cause early embryonic death and abortion.

Trichomonosis - Cattle

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