TROPHOZOITE
SIZE:
Trichomonas vaginalis: 8 to 30 mcm.
Trichomonas hominis: 8 to 20 mcm.
Trichomonas tenax: 6 to 17 mcm.
SHAPE : Pyriform to oval
NUCLEUS: One (eye spot).
FLAGELLA:
Trichomonas vaginalis: 4 anterior.
Trichomonas hominis: 5 anterior and 1 posterior.
Trichomonas tenax: 4 anterior.
UNDULATING MEMBRANE:
Trichomonas vaginalis: 1/3 to 1/2 the length of the organism.
Trichomonas hominis: Full length of the body.
Trichomonas tenax: 1/2 to 2/3 the length of the body.
COSTA: Arises at the kinetostome and travels beneath and parallel to the undulating
membrane.
ACCESSORY FILIMENT: Lamelar structure located just inside the undulating
membrane and courses along its length.
PARABASAL BODY: Golgi apparatus; near the nucleus
AXOSTYLES: Formed by a sheet of microtubules
CYTOSTOME: Absent.
MOBILITY: Vibrates; nervous; jerky.
Figure 1-27. Trichomonas pathogens.
MD0842
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