Trichomonas: Protozoa III

Question 1

Pellicle

Answer 1

combination of plasma membrane and thin, translucent secreted envelope
- gives flagellate a more defined shape; stiff but flexible

Question 2

Flagella

Answer 2

• Used for locomotion

- arise from granules (can be attached or unattached)

Question 3

Undulating membrane

Answer 3

Thin line of extending plasma membrnae which flagellum attaches to before becoming a free flagellum

Question 4

Axostyle

Answer 4

tube like organelle (may or may not be present)

- arises from kinetosome

Question 5

Parabasal body

Answer 5

Golgi Body located near kinetosome

- parabasal filament runs to the kinetosome

Question 6

Human: Trichomonas vaginalis

Answer 6

• occurs in reproductive and urinary system of ppl

Question 7

Human: Trichomonas tenax

Answer 7

endocommensal in mouth (tooth socckets)

Question 8

Human: Pentatrichomonas hominis

Answer 8

endocommensal in large intestine and cecum

Question 9

Catte: Tritrichomonas foetas

Answer 9

a parasite flagellate of the urogenital tract of cattle

aka Trichomoniasis

Question 10

Tritrichomonas foetas causes:

Answer 10

infertility and abortion in cows

• asymptomatic in bull’s prepuce howev1er spreads infection

Question 11

Tritrichomonas foetas transmitted during

Answer 11

coitus

Question 12

Bulls are

Answer 12

permanent carriers and sources of infection

Question 13

To check if herd is infected w T. foetus, the most reliable way is to

Answer 13

test bulls

Question 14

most cows self-cure after

Answer 14

developing immunity

Question 15

How to sample a bull?

Answer 15

Sample is taken from back area of penis and inner sheath by either scraping a pipette (dry method) or flushing with sterile saline (wet method)

Question 16

Signs of Bovine Trichomonosis in beef herd

Answer 16

• repeated oestral cycling
• extended calving season
• early abortion
• late term abortions
• high percentage of open cows at pregnancy check
• pus-filled uterus (pyometra)

Question 17

Can Trichomonosis be treated?

Answer 17

• In bulls: no as bulls remain persistently infected
• most cows clear infection in months, but few can carry infection to calving
• cows w pyometra remain persistently infected
• vaccines help clear infection but do not prevent infection

Question 18

Trichomonosis control

Answer 18

1. maintain closed herd (test all new animals)
2. separate breeding groups
3. use young virgin bulls
4. culture bulls before breeding season
5. use AI
6. If one or more bulls infected; test, cull and vaccinate

Question 19

Golden Standard

Answer 19

The AI industry prescribes for bovine trichomonosis a rigorous protocol of 6 weekly T. foetus negative cultures for bulls > 1 yo

Question 20

Laboratory testing

Answer 20

• know sensitivity for any test

- reported sampling and testing will improve sensitivity