Trichomonadida
Order of flagellated protists
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Trichomonadida is an order of anaerobic protists, included with the parabasalids. Members of this order are referred to as trichomonads.
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| Trichomonadida | |
|---|---|
| |
| Two T. vaginalis trophozoites. Colorized SEM | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Clade: | Metamonada |
| Phylum: | Parabasalia |
| Class: | Trichomonadea |
| Order: | Trichomonadida Brugerolle & Lee 2000 |
| Families | |
| |
Some organisms in this order include:
- Trichomonas vaginalis, an organism living inside the vagina of humans
- Dientamoeba fragilis, parasitic ameboid in humans
- Histomonas meleagridis, parasite that causes blackhead disease in poultry
- Mixotricha paradoxa, a symbiotic organism inside termites, host of endosymbionts
Anatomy
Species in this order typically have four to six flagella at the cell's apical pole, one of which is recurrent - that is, it runs along a surface wave, giving the aspect of an undulating membrane. Like other parabasalids, they typically have an axostyle, a pelta, a costa, and parabasal bodies. In Histomonas only one flagellum and a reduced axostyle are found, and in Dientamoeba, both are absent.
Behavior
Most species are either parasites or other endosymbionts of animals.
Trichomonads reproduce by a special form of longitudinal fission, leading to large numbers of trophozoites in a relatively short time. Cysts never form, so transmission from one host to another is always based on direct contact between the sites they occupy.[1]
Treatment
The preferred treatment for trichomonad infection is metronidazole.[2]