CHAPTER LV 



CLASS II MASTIGOPHOKA (DIESING) 

 SUB-CLASS FL AGE LL AT A (COHN EMEND. BUTSCHLI) 



ORDER I POLYMASTIGINA (Blochmann) 



THESE are flagellates, possessing three to eight flagella. 



Technic of the examination for intestinal flagellates: It is not 

 necessary to administer a cathartic unless motile vegetative forms are 

 desired; cysts are found in formed stools. Small particles of feces 

 are mixed with a drop of water, or dilute stain and the slide is 

 examined with a high, dry lens, after a cover glass has been applied. 

 The stains most used are Gram's iodin and dilute eosin; the iodin 

 besides staining the parasite, colors the iodophilic inclusions. Thin 

 smears may be stained with iron hematoxylin and with eosin methylene 

 blue mixtures. 



The flagellates may be cultivated on media used for the cultural 

 amoebae. 



GENUS 1. Trichomonas (Donne, 1837). These have pyroform 

 (pear-shaped) bodies, rounded in front and tapering to a point 

 behind, provided with three long flagella, often matted together at 

 the anterior end. An internal supporting structure, known as the 

 axial filament or axostyle, is present. There is an undulating mem- 

 brane bordered by a trailing flagellum that begins anteriorly and 

 runs obliquely backwards. 



Trichomonas vaginalis (Donne). The organism is fifteen to 

 twenty-five microns long and seven to twelve wide; it is provided 

 with three flagella and an undulating membrane. It is found in 

 the vaginal secretion only when it is acid, and in three instances 

 it has been transmitted to the male. 



Trichomonas intestinalis (R. Leuckard, 1879). This parasite is 

 practically indistinguishable from Trichomonas vaginalis. It occurs 

 in the small intestine and appears in the stools during diarrheal 

 attacks, but is probably non-pathogenic. It is readily found in the 

 intestine and colon of mice and guinea-pigs. In fresh specimens 



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