Tritrichomonas foetus

Tritrichomonas foetus

• 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

Pathogenesis

• No clinical signs in the bull once established
  • Inhabits the preputial cavity
  • Once infected, bulls remain so permanently

• Infertility and abortion in the cow
  • Inhabits the uterus and vagina

• Prevalence has dramatically decreased in cattle since the introduction of artificial insemination

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

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

Diagnosis

• Microscopic examination of vaginal or preputial washings