The Anatomy of Tetratrichomonas didelphidis (Hegner and Ratcliffe, 1927) comb. n. from the Opossum

Abstract

Tetratrichomonas didelphidis (Hegner and Ratcliffe, 1927) comb. n. was found in the cecum and colon in 20 of 24 opossums (Didelphis marsupialis) in Illinois. The organisms grew best in Stuart''s leptospira medium at 29 C. The trichomonads were piriform, 7 [mu] long by 4 [mu] wide; with four anterior flagella of unequal length averaging 17, 14, 10, and 8 , respectively. The slender hyaline axostyle extended 4 [mu] posteriorly and had an inconspicuous capitulum. A discoid parabasal body with an intensely argentophilic central granule, a long slender parabasal filament, a narrow pelta, a prominent costa, and a pronounced undulating membrane extending full length of the body and continuing as a long posterior free flagellum were present.