CHAPTER IX 



The Flagellates (Continued) 



Trichomonas Species. Cultivation. Trichomonas hom- 

 inis. Prevalence and Relations. Habitat and Effects. 

 Treatment. Other Intestinal Trichomonads. 



TRICHOMONAS 



When considered by genera Trichomonas is the 

 most common flagellate of man's alimentary tract, in 

 the writer's experience. Trichomonas homiyiis is the 

 inhabitant of the intestine while Trichomonas buc- 

 calis occurs in the mouth. 



It is not yet clear that these two are distinct 

 species, or what their relation is to Trichomonas 

 vaginalis, the habitat of which is the vagina. In 

 their own natural locations these three trichomonads 

 of man may have somewhat different appearances. 

 Trichomonas vaginalis may be larger, and it and Tri- 

 chomonas buccalis usually swdm about less actively 

 than does Trichomonas hominis, as it is seen in liquid 

 feces. When seen in culture, however, it is thus far 

 commonly impossible to say from w^hich source the 

 organism came. 



In fact, Hegner (1928), by experimentally estab- 



139 



