title: Ultrastructural features of Tritrichomonas mobilensis and comparison with Tritrichomonas foetus.
abstract: Tritrichomonas mobilensis is an intestinal parasite of squirrel monkeys. There are few reports concerning the morphological aspects of this parasite. In addition, the taxonomic relationship between T. mobilensis and Tritrichomonas foetus, a serious pathogen that causes bovine and feline trichomonosis, has been questioned. For this reason, in the present study, we examined and compared both tritrichomonads with regard to their morphology, ultrastructure, endocytic activity and cytotoxicity when in the presence of host cells. Electron microscopy demonstrated consistent morphological differences between the hydrogenosomes of both parasites. Moreover, T. mobilensis and T. foetus had striking differences in their endocytic behavior. Thus, this work provides additional data that support the hypothesis that T. mobilensis is a distinct species from T. foetus.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Santa Úrsula, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Midlej
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pereira-Neves
authors.forename: Luiza Wilges
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Kist
authors.forename: Maurício Reis
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Bogo
authors.forename: Marlene
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Benchimol
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018938:Caco-2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D013045:Species Specificity; D014318:Tritrichomonas / Q000145:classification* / Q000648:ultrastructure*