title: The interaction of Tritrichomonas foetus and Trichomonas vaginalis with macrophages.
abstract: The process of interaction between macrophages and Tritrichomonas foetus and Trichomonas vaginalis was analysed using light microscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The parasites attach to the macrophage surface and are ingested through a phagocytic process. Parasite-macrophage association index was higher for activated than for resident macrophages. Previous incubation of the parasites in the presence of Concanavalin A rendered their surface less negative and more hydrophobic, as evaluated by measurement of the zeta potential and contact angle, respectively. This treatment significantly increased parasite ingestion by resident, but not activated macrophages.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Parasitologia e Biofíscia Celular, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeurio, Brasil.
authors.forename: N L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: De Azevedo
authors.forename: F C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Silva Filho
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: De Souza
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051379:Mice; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D014318:Tritrichomonas / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D003208:Concanavalin A