Genus : Tetratrichomonas
Introduction
- Species of this genus have four anterior flagella, posterior trailing flagellum and pelta
- Species occurring are
|
Species |
Hosts |
Site |
|
Tetratrichomonas anatis (syn. Trichomonas anatis) |
Duck |
Small intestine and large intestine |
|
T. anseris (Syn. T. anseris) |
Goose |
Caeca |
|
T. buttreyi (syn. T. buttreyi) |
Cattle, Pig |
Caecum, colon |
|
T. canistomae |
Dog |
Mouth |
|
T. felistomae |
Cat |
Mouth |
|
T. gallinarum (Syn. T. gallinarum) |
Chicken,turkey, quail |
Caeca |
|
T. microti |
Rat, Mouse, Hamster, vole |
Large intestine |
|
T. ovis (syn. T. ovis) |
Sheep |
Caecum, Lumen |
|
T. paviov (Syn. T. bovis) |
Cattle |
Large intestine |
Tetratrichomonas gallinarum
Location and host
- These are parasite are found in lower digestive tract and sometimes in liver of chicken, turkey, quail
Morphology
- Body is pyriform, measuring 7-15 x 3-9 µm
- Four anterior flagella are present and a posterior flagellum runs along the undulating membrane and extends beyond. Accessary filament is present
- Axostyle is long, pointed and slender and lacks chromatic ring ant its point of emergence
- Pelta is elaborate and terminate in short ventral extension which is more or less free from ventral edge of the axostyle
Transmission
- Through ingestion of trichomonads in contaminated feed and water
Life cycle
- Transmission occurs through ingestion of contaminated feed or water
- Parasite multiplies in host through binary fission
Pathogenesis
- These parasite causes typhlohepatitis in turkeys morphologically very similar to histomoniasis either as mono infection or mixed infection with meleagrids
- Cheesy cores of blood-stained tissue debris are found in caeca
- Granular cream-colored, well defined necrotic areas with level of elevated above surface of liver are present. In case of meleagridis, lesion are slightly depressed below liver surfaces and absence of granular appearance
- Necrotic foci in liver are uniformly pale and slightly elevated above the liver surface.