Tritrichomonadida

Tritrichomonads are small trichomonads (8-22 µm) with three anterior flagella and a recurrent flagellum forming a conspicuous undulating membrane with a posterior free portion. Costa stout or slender sustaining the undulating membrane; axostyle well developed; sausage-shaped parabasal. At the time of writing, there are about 20 species living in the intestinal tract of rodents, birds, reptiles and amphibians one species T. foetus is a parasite of the uro-genital tract of bovines. This image of Tritrichomonas foetus parasitic from uro-genital tract of the cattle (cows). It has three anterior flagella, a recurrent flagellum forming an undulating membrane with a free posterior part, a thick axostyle (immunofluorescence). 

Dientamoeba is an amoeboid and amastigote parabasalid of about 5-20 µm in diameter, containing v-shaped parabasal body close to the nucleus but no flagella and axostyle. In binucleate cells a paradesmose is stretched between the two polar centers at the origin of the parabasal fibers. Anaerobic, contains hydrogenosomal granules, moves by amoeboism and phagocytoses particles such as bacteria and inhabits the intestine of humans. Dientamoeba fragilis, phase contrast. 

Section of the "rail-type" undulating membrane by transmission EM.

Monocercomonas are small trichomonad flagellates (5-15 µm) with three anteriorly directed flagella and a recurrent one slightly adhering on its proximal part to the cell body. Well developed axostyle protruding posterioly. Parabasal body rod-, disc- or V-shaped. About 20 species occurring in the intestinal tract of vertebrates such as M. caviae from the caecum of guinea pigs (Nie 1950) or invertebrates such as termites, roaches, tipulid larvae. Unidentified species from the gut of the cockroach Parasphaeria boleiriana from Brazil (interference contrast) 

"Tritrichomonads are small trichomonads (8-22 µm) with three anterior flagella and a recurrent flagellum forming a conspicuous undulating membrane with a posterior free portion. Costa stout or slender sustaining the undulating membrane; axostyle well developed; sausage-shaped parabasal. At the time of writing, there are about 20 species living in the intestinal tract of rodents, birds, reptiles and amphibians one species T. foetus is a parasite of the uro-genital tract of bovines. This image of  Tritrichomonas muris from mice, three anterior flagella, a recurrent flagellum forming an undulating membrane, axotyle protruding at the posterior end (phase contrast).

Dientamoeba is an amoeboid and amastigote parabasalid of about 5-20 µm in diameter, containing v-shaped parabasal body close to the nucleus but no flagella and axostyle. In binucleate cells a paradesmose is stretched between the two polar centers at the origin of the parabasal fibers. Anaerobic, contains hydrogenosomal granules, moves by amoeboism and phagocytoses particles such as bacteria and inhabits the intestine of humans. Dientamoeba fragilis, phase contrast. 

Tritrichomonads are small trichomonads (8-22 µm) with three anterior flagella and a recurrent flagellum forming a conspicuous undulating membrane with a posterior free portion. Costa stout or slender sustaining the undulating membrane; axostyle well developed; sausage-shaped parabasal. At the time of writing, there are about 20 species living in the intestinal tract of rodents, birds, reptiles and amphibians one species T. foetus is a parasite of the uro-genital tract of bovines. This image of two trichomonad species from the coecum of rodents, Tritrichomonas muris is larger than Tritrichomonas minuta, T. minuta has a narrower undulating membrane (protargol). 

Tritrichomonads are small trichomonads (8-22 µm) with three anterior flagella and a recurrent flagellum forming a conspicuous undulating membrane with a posterior free portion. Costa stout or slender sustaining the undulating membrane; axostyle well developed; sausage-shaped parabasal. At the time of writing, there are about 20 species living in the intestinal tract of rodents, birds, reptiles and amphibians one species T. foetus is a parasite of the uro-genital tract of bovines. This image of Tritrichomonas augusta from the cloaca of amphibia and reptiles, three anterior flagella longer than those of Tritrichomonas muris, a recurrent flagellum forming an undulating membrane, posterior protruding axostyle (protargol and Giemsa staining).

"Tritrichomonads are small trichomonads (8-22 µm) with three anterior flagella and a recurrent flagellum forming a conspicuous undulating membrane with a posterior free portion. Costa stout or slender sustaining the undulating membrane; axostyle well developed; sausage-shaped parabasal. At the time of writing, there are about 20 species living in the intestinal tract of rodents, birds, reptiles and amphibians one species T. foetus is a parasite of the uro-genital tract of bovines. This image of  Tritrichomonas muris from guinea pig, axostyle with posterior subterminal rings, recurrent flagellum forming a thick undulating membrane with several layers subtended by the costa fibre, anterior nucleus (Giemsa staining).

Tritrichomonads are small trichomonads (8-22 µm) with three anterior flagella and a recurrent flagellum forming a conspicuous undulating membrane with a posterior free portion. Costa stout or slender sustaining the undulating membrane; axostyle well developed; sausage-shaped parabasal. At the time of writing, there are about 20 species living in the intestinal tract of rodents, birds, reptiles and amphibians one species T. foetus is a parasite of the uro-genital tract of bovines. This image of Tritrichomonas augusta from the cloaca of amphibia and reptiles, three anterior flagella longer than those of Tritrichomonas muris, a recurrent flagellum forming an undulating membrane, posterior protruding axostyle (protargol and Giemsa staining). 

Tritrichomonads are small trichomonads (8-22 µm) with three anterior flagella and a recurrent flagellum forming a conspicuous undulating membrane with a posterior free portion. Costa stout or slender sustaining the undulating membrane; axostyle well developed; sausage-shaped parabasal. At the time of writing, there are about 20 species living in the intestinal tract of rodents, birds, reptiles and amphibians one species T. foetus is a parasite of the uro-genital tract of bovines. This image of Tritrichomonas muris squashed cell showing the recurrent flagellum (Fr) associated with the different layer of the undulating membrane (dmo, pmo) linked to the subjacent costa (C), the axostyle (Ax) and nucleus (N) (Giemsa). 

Section of the "rail-type" undulating membrane by transmission EM

Scanning electron micrograph of cells from a rodent.

Undulating membrane of Tritrichomonas augusta from Amphibians and Reptiles by scanning EM

Tritrichomonas (try-try-koe-moan-ass), a trichomonas with three anterior flagella and one recurrent flagellum forming an undulating membrane. Also with an axostyle extending beyond the posterior end of the cell. Group shot, phase contrast.

Scanning EM showing the three anterior flagella and the undulating membrane.

Tritrichomonas (try-try-koe-moan-ass), a trichomonas with three anterior flagella and one recurrent flagellum forming an undulating membrane seen on the lower faces of the cell. Also with an axostyle extending beyond the posterior end of the cell. Differential interference contrast.

Scanning EM showing the three anterior flagella and the undulating membrane.