Tritrichomonas foetus

Tritrichomonas foetus

"Tritrichomonas foetus"' is a single celled flagellated protozoan parasite that is known to be a pathogen of the bovine reproductive tract as well as the intestinal tract of cats. In cattle, the organism is transmitted to the female vagina and uterus from the foreskin of the bull where the parasite is known to reside. It causes infertility, and, at times, has caused spontaneous abortions in the first trimester. Cases of infection in cattle have declined due to the use of artificial insemination. In the last ten years, there have been reports of "Tritrichomonas foetus" in the feces of young cats that have diarrhea and live in households with multiple cats.

Description

"Tritrichomonas foetus" belongs to the order Trichomonadida in the Kingdom Protoctista. The parasite is 5-25 µm in size and is spindle shaped with four flagella which are whiplike projections and an undulating or wavy membrane. Their movement is jerky and in a forward direction. "Tritrichomontas foetus" looks like small tadpoles with small tails when viewed microscopically. The parasite interacts with bacteria that normally reside in the intestinal tract by adhering to the intestinal epithelium of the host.

Diagnosis

"Tritrichomonas foetus" in cats is characterized by diarrhea that comes and goes and may contain blood and mucus at times. The diarrhea is semi formed in a cow pie consistency. In most cases it affects cats of 12 months of age or younger and cats from rescue shelters and homes with multiple cats. Close and direct contact appears to be the mode in which the parasite is transmitted.

Treatment

Treatment of the infection is difficult due to drug resistance. Traditional antiprotozoal drugs such as fenbendazole and metronidazole do not alleviate the symptoms. Some antimicrobial drugs have been shown to improve symptoms but do not eradicate the parasite.

Prognosis

It has been shown that most cats show improvement and no signs of infection within 2 years of onset. It appears that over time the parasite dies off and the infection is remedied on its own.

References

¹Hausmann, K., N. Hülsmann, R. Radek. Protistology. 3rd completely revised edition. (2003). E. Schweizerbart’sche Verlagsbuchhandlung. Stuttgart, Germany.

²http://www.cvm.ncsu.edu/mbs/gookin_file2.pdf [Accessed 14 September 2006] .

³http://www.fabcats.org/tritrichomonas.html [Accessed 14 September 2006] .

4http://www.vita-tech.com/news.cfm?id=tritrichomonas_01Apr05 [Accessed 14 September 2006] .


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Tritrichomonas foetus — a species found in the genital tract of cattle, the cause of the venereal disease bovine trichomoniasis, transmitted from bulls to cows by coitus or by artificial insemination. Formerly called Trichomonas foetus …   Medical dictionary

  • Trichomonas foetus — Tritrichomonas foetus …   Medical dictionary

  • Tritrichomonas — A genus of parasitic protozoan flagellates, formerly part of the genus Trichomonas but now separated as a distinct genus by the absence of a pelta and the presence of three anterior flagella. Species includ …   Medical dictionary

  • Гидрогеносомы — Модель синтеза АТФ в гидрогеносоме.[1] Гидрогеносома закрытая мембранная органелла некоторых одноклеточных анаэробных организмов, таких как …   Википедия

  • Hydrogénosome — Abb.1: Synthèse d ATP dans un hydrogénosome[1]. abb.: CoA = Coenzyme A L hydrogénosome est un organite présent dans certains organismes anaérobies tels que des ciliés, des trichomonas et certains fungi …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Hydrogenosome — A hydrogenosome is a membrane enclosed organelle of some anaerobic ciliates, trichomonads and fungi. The hydrogenosomes of trichomonads (the most studied of the hydrogenosome containing microorganisms) produce molecular hydrogen, acetate, carbon… …   Wikipedia

  • Hydrogenosom — Übergeordnet Organell Untergeordnet Membran Lumen Proteink …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Trichomonas — A genus of parasitic protozoan flagellates (subfamily Trichomonidinae, family Trichomonadidae) causing trichomoniasis in humans, other primates, and birds. Specificity is more marked for its precise microhabitat than for host species. The genus… …   Medical dictionary

  • Smegma — This article is about smegma, usually found in the foreskin, a secretion of mammalian genitals. See Vernix caseosa for the substance that covers the skin of a baby at birth. See Smegma (band) for the experimental noise band. Smegma (Greek smēgma …   Wikipedia

  • Smegma — Le smegma est, de manière générale, la sécrétion d une glande sébacée. Ce terme sert en particulier à désigner la substance blanchâtre et caséeuse, composée de débris de cellules épithéliales mortes et de sécrétions sébacées lubrifiantes, qui s… …   Wikipédia en Français

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”