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.