Spirotrichonymphida

Spirotrichonympha (spire-o-trick-o-nympha-a) is a trichonymphid flagellate from the intestines of the termite Reticulotermes. These are hypermastigids in which the flagella insert in spiral arrays. Nucleus lies some distance behind the anterior end of the cell, but more or less determines the boundary between the front and the back of the cell. The back of the cell is capable of ingesting particles of wood. Phase contrast.

Spirotrichonympha (spire-o-trick-o-nympha-a) is a trichonymphid flagellate from the intestines of the termite Reticulotermes. These are hypermastigids in which the flagella insert in spiral arrays. Nucleus lies some distance behind the anterior end of the cell, but more or less determines the boundary between the front and the back of the cell. The back of the cell is capable of ingesting particles of wood. Phase contrast.

Large (80-180 µm) spirotrichonymphids with an anterior pole generally spiralled and bare, from which originate the helical flagellar rows that generally do not reach the posterior end. No rostrum or columella. Spot-shaped dictyosomes situated between the flagellar rows. Compound axostylar trunk that does not protrude at the posterior end. Occuring in termites, many species in Heterotermes, Coptotermes, Schedorhinotermes such as Holomastigotoides hemigymnum from Coptotermes sjoestedti. Whole cell with spiralled flagellar rows, posterior part free of flagella, anterior nucleus (protargol staining). 

Large (80-180 µm) spirotrichonymphids with an anterior pole generally spiralled and bare, from which originate the helical flagellar rows that generally do not reach the posterior end. No rostrum or columella. Spot-shaped dictyosomes situated between the flagellar rows. Compound axostylar trunk that does not protrude at the posterior end. Occuring in termites, many species in Heterotermes, Coptotermes, Schedorhinotermes such as Holomastigotoides hemigymnum from Coptotermes sjoestedti. Anterior view showing the origin of the flagellar rows (silver staining). 

Holomastigotes (whole-o-ma-stig-owe-teas) one of the spirotrichonymphid parabasalian flagellates, in which the flagella are located in curving rows. Like other trichonymphids, restricted to termites, this cell from Reticulotermes. Detail of anterior. Phase contrast.

Holomastigotes (whole-o-ma-stig-owe-teas) one of the spirotrichonymphid parabasalian flagellates, in which the flagella are located in curving rows. Like other trichonymphids, restricted to termites, this cell from Reticulotermes. Phase contrast.

Holomastigotes are spirotrichonymphids with flagellar rows originating from the apex and progressing helically covering the whole cell body. In a species the size and the number of flagellar rows are variable. Nucleus very anterior, no columella. Dictyosomes scattered along the flagellar rows or concentrated at the posteriror of the nucleus. Axostyle present in some species. Cytoplasm filled with spherical food vacuoles, no wood particles, pinocytic nutrition. Holomastigotes elongatum Grassi, 1892, large form with five or six flagellar rows, flagella adherent to the cell body in their proximal part, anterior nucleus (two focal planes, interferential contrast). This species occurs in Reticulitermes lucifugus grassei, R. flavipes or its synonym R. santonensis, and Hodotermopsis sjoestedti. 

Holomastigotes are spirotrichonymphids with flagellar rows originating from the apex and progressing helically covering the whole cell body. In a species the size and the number of flagellar rows are variable. Nucleus very anterior, no columella. Dictyosomes scattered along the flagellar rows or concentrated at the posteriror of the nucleus. Axostyle present in some species. Cytoplasm filled with spherical food vacuoles, no wood particles, pinocytic nutrition. Holomastigotes elongatum at two focusing showing the rows of adhering flagella and the anterior nucleus (interferential contrast). 

Holomastigotes are spirotrichonymphids with flagellar rows originating from the apex and progressing helically covering the whole cell body. In a species the size and the number of flagellar rows are variable. Nucleus very anterior, no columella. Dictyosomes scattered along the flagellar rows or concentrated at the posteriror of the nucleus. Axostyle present in some species. Cytoplasm filled with spherical food vacuoles, no wood particles, pinocytic nutrition. Holomastigotes elongatum Grassi, 1892, small form with two, three or four flagellar rows (two focusing, phase contrast). 

Holomastigotes are spirotrichonymphids with flagellar rows originating from the apex and progressing helically covering the whole cell body. In a species the size and the number of flagellar rows are variable. Nucleus very anterior, no columella. Dictyosomes scattered along the flagellar rows or concentrated at the posteriror of the nucleus. Axostyle present in some species. Cytoplasm filled with spherical food vacuoles, no wood particles, pinocytic nutrition. Holomastigotes elongatum Grasssi, 1892, small form with two, three or four flagellar rows and large form with five or six flagellar rows (fluorescence micrograph). 

Holomastigotes are spirotrichonymphids with flagellar rows originating from the apex and progressing helically covering the whole cell body. In a species the size and the number of flagellar rows are variable. Nucleus very anterior, no columella. Dictyosomes scattered along the flagellar rows or concentrated at the posteriror of the nucleus. Axostyle present in some species. Cytoplasm filled with spherical food vacuoles, no wood particles, pinocytic nutrition. Holomastigotes elongatum Grasssi, 1892, small form with two, three or four flagellar rows and large form with five or six flagellar rows (fluorescence micrograph). 

Holomastigotes are spirotrichonymphids with flagellar rows originating from the apex and progressing helically covering the whole cell body. In a species the size and the number of flagellar rows are variable. Nucleus very anterior, no columella. Dictyosomes scattered along the flagellar rows or concentrated at the posteriror of the nucleus. Axostyle present in some species. Cytoplasm filled with spherical food vacuoles, no wood particles, pinocytic nutrition. Holomastigotes elongatum Grasssi, 1892, small form with two, three or four flagellar rows and large form with five or six flagellar rows (fluorescence micrograph). 

Microjoenia are relatively small spirotrichonymphid flagellates (5 to 20 µm) with flagella arising around an apical bare pole and deflected posteriorly. Seven to 15 longitudinal or oblique flagellar lines at the anterior part of the cell. Parabasal bodies arranged in a crown around the anterior pole and the nucleus, tube-like axostylar trunk protruding posteriorly. Cytoplasm filled with wood particles, occurring in termites. Microjoenia anterodepressa Brugerolle, 2000 from Porotermes grandis is a pear-shaped flagellate with an average size 20 µm long and 10 µm broad and a charactristic depressed bare apical pole above the large nucleus. Generally five spiralled flagellar bands, axostyle protruding posteriorly, three to four Golgi bodies immediately posterior to the nucleus.  

Microjoenia are relatively small spirotrichonymphid flagellates (5 to 20 µm) with flagella arising around an apical bare pole and deflected posteriorly. Seven to 15 longitudinal or oblique flagellar lines at the anterior part of the cell. Parabasal bodies arranged in a crown around the anterior pole and the nucleus, tube-like axostylar trunk protruding posteriorly. Cytoplasm filled with wood particles, occurring in termites. Microjoenia anterodepressa Brugerolle, 2000 from Porotermes grandis is a pear-shaped flagellate with an average size 20 µm long and 10 µm broad and a charactristic depressed bare apical pole above the large nucleus. Generally five spiralled flagellar bands, axostyle protruding posteriorly, three to four Golgi bodies immediately posterior to the nucleus. Giemsa stain. 

Microjoenia are relatively small spirotrichonymphid flagellates (5 to 20 µm) with flagella arising around an apical bare pole and deflected posteriorly. Seven to 15 longitudinal or oblique flagellar lines at the anterior part of the cell. Parabasal bodies arranged in a crown around the anterior pole and the nucleus, tube-like axostylar trunk protruding posteriorly. Cytoplasm filled with wood particles, occurring in termites. Microjoenia anterodepressa Brugerolle, 2000 from Porotermes grandis is a pear-shaped flagellate with an average size 20 µm long and 10 µm broad and a charactristic depressed bare apical pole above the large nucleus. Generally five spiralled flagellar bands, axostyle protruding posteriorly, three to four Golgi bodies immediately posterior to the nucleus. Immunofluorescence. 

Microjoenia are relatively small spirotrichonymphid flagellates (5 to 20 µm) with flagella arising around an apical bare pole and deflected posteriorly. Seven to 15 longitudinal or oblique flagellar lines at the anterior part of the cell. Parabasal bodies arranged in a crown around the anterior pole and the nucleus, tube-like axostylar trunk protruding posteriorly. Cytoplasm filled with wood particles, occurring in termites. Microjoenia hexamitoides from Reticulitermes lucifugus grassei (Giemsa staining) 

Microjoenia are relatively small spirotrichonymphid flagellates (5 to 20 µm) with flagella arising around an apical bare pole and deflected posteriorly. Seven to 15 longitudinal or oblique flagellar lines at the anterior part of the cell. Parabasal bodies arranged in a crown around the anterior pole and the nucleus, tube-like axostylar trunk protruding posteriorly. Cytoplasm filled with wood particles, occurring in termites. Microjoenia fallax Duboscq & Grassé, 1928 from Reticulitermes flavipes and syn. R. santonensis) is an up-side-down bulb-shaped cell of 15-29 µm in length and 10-15 µm in breath, with anterior radiating flagella deflected posteriorly. About eight to 10 longitudinal flagellar rows, straight axostylar trunk, Golgi bodies situated around the nucleus. Interference contrast showing the radiating anterior flagellar rows and the protruding posterior axostyle.