Lecture 7: Flagellates

Question 1

What are the anatomic features do trichomonads have?

Answer 1

1. Anterior tuft of flagella, pyriform shape, undulating (recurrent flagellum) membrane
2. Parabasal body present
3. Axostyle
4. Free posterior flagella
5. Hydrogenosomes (no mitochondria)

Question 2

What are characteristics of trichomonads?

Answer 2

1. Move in a wobbly tumbling motion
2. No sexual reproduction - binary fission
3. True cyst forms are rare
4. Found in intestinal and reproductive tracts of vertebrates and invertebrates

Question 3

Tritrichomonas foetus

Answer 3

A venereal disease of cattle primarily seen in the US and Europe that has caused significant economic losses to the industry