Eimeria tenella and Trichomonas vaginalis

Eimeria tenella

Habit and habitat

It is monogenetic,there is only single host and transmission occur through oral faecal route. It causes caecal coccidiosis for which sulpha drugs (0.5%) is given. In the faeces, there is the presence of oocyst or zygotes. Infective stage of Eimeria tenella is sporozoite. The organism is side shaped. Outermost covering is pellicle. It secretes lytic enzymes (lysine) then it dissolves the tissue and there is the gateway of the entrance of sporozoite in the body of fowl. It is a haploid body,only the oocyst or zygotes are diploid. Schizogony takes place in mitosis division. In the first division, it produces 900 merozoites and in second division it produces 250 merozoites.

One sporozoites→ 900 merozoites

It is unicellular and intracellular protozoan parasites. They are generally found in the epithelial lining of hosts alimentary canal (caecum) of fowl or birds.

Distribution

It is worldwide in distribution.

Morphology

There are two morphological forms

1. Sporozoites
2. Trophozoites

Sporozoites: The sporozoites is elongated, slightly curved and microscopic. One end of the sporozoite is pointed and other is blunt. The pellicle contains longitudinally arranged microtubules which helped in the wriggling moment of the organism.Cytoplasm includes vesicular nucleus,mitochondria, ribosome, lysosomes,vacuoles contain food, Endoplasmic reticulum.

Trophozoite: The trophozoite is pear shaped having one end pointed and another blunt. The characteristic features of trophozoites are the presence of Eosinophilic globules at its blunt end which helped to produce schizonts and binary fission.

First generation schizonts

• Vacuolated in centre
• Smaller size merozoites
• About 900 merozoites

Second generation schizonts

• Non-vacuolated centres
• Larger size merozoites
• About 250 merozoites

Pathogenesis

It causes caecal coccidiosis which is a fatal disease. It disrupts the caecal epithelium of the birds. The common symptoms of caecal coccidiosis are blood droppings, pale face,bloody vent (cloacal aperture) yellowish gray cheesy centers. In the advanced stage, the birds show restlessness dropping wings shuffled features and unsteady gait. Te young one are more severely affected than the adults.

Treatment

Caecal coccidiosis is treated with sulfa drugs, sulfa mezathene, and sulfaquinoxaline. At the rate 0.5% with drinking water for a week.

Prophylaxis (Prevention measures)

• The droppings or littler should be heated at 121c F. NH₃ destroy oocyst in the dry litter. Sulfa drugs 0.5% must be administered to the feed and water. This develops immunity from coccidial organisms.
• Each merozoite of first generation measures 2-4[micro]=length and 1-1.5 [micro] width.
• 16 [micro] in length and 2μ in width in the second generation.
• Anisogametogony
• Merozoites transformed into gametocytes or gametes.
• Its union of anisogamete and formation of zygote is anisogametogony

Lifecycle

It is monogenetic ie lifecycle completes in only one host.

Trichomonas vaginalis

Distribution

It is cosmopolitan but mainly in the tropics. These are large flagellate parasites found in the reproductive organs of women; especially in the vagina and in the cervix. It feeds on mucus surface of the vagina and ingests bacteria and leucocytes. In the male,it is found in the urethra and prostate gland.

Morphology

It has a pear-shaped body measuring 10-12 9micro has a single ovoid nucleus at the anterior end and a small depression like cytostome at its side. It consists of five flagella out of which four are anterior and the fifth one is directed backwards united to the body membrane supported by the undulting membrane.

Lifecycle ofTrichomonas vaginalis

It is monogenetic parasite ie life cycle completes in only one host. The infection is transmitted by sexual intercourse.Basically, the female acts as the reservoir of infection. The trophozoite passes to the man from women during sexual contact. The trophozoite feeds upon the mucosa membrane of vagina and divides by binary fission, in which karyokinesis is followed by cytokinesis. Thus a large number of trophozoite are produced. The trophozoites are the infective stage of the parasite. The trophozoite is produced. The trophozoite is transmitted from one person to another (opposite sex) by sexual contact. The man carries the parasite from one woman to other healthy women.

Mode of infection

1. It is transmitted by sexual contact with an infected patient.
2. It is also transmitted by using underwear towels.
3. Infection is also reported from newborn female children

Transmission

There is only trophozoite stage. Thus transmission is direct through trophozoite. It cannot live outside the body. Hence it is transmitted necessarily during sexual intercourse. The female act as the reservoir and the male act as a vector.

Pathogenicity

Trichomonas vaginalis causes the trichomoniasis. The trophozoite feeds on degenerated vaginal epithelium of female. It causes inflammation of vagina in the female and urinary tract of the male. The trophozoite causes itching of vagina and ulceration in a vagina. It is characterized by leukemic discharge from the vagina.

Symptoms

Its symptoms are symptomatic in male whereas in female causes vaginitis. Its causes inflammable of vagina mucosa,urethritis may be caused in the male.

Treatment

Arsenic and iodine drugs and antibiotics like Aureomycin and Tetracycline have proved helpful in combating the disease.

Prophylaxis

Profile axis:

1. Personal hygiene
2. Sexual avoid with multiple partners.
3. Avoidance of use of personnel particles of other like towels
4. Use of condom
5. Sexual partner should be one.

References

Arvind, Keshari K. and Kamal K Adhikari. A Textbook of Biology. Vidyarthi Pustak Bhander.

Michael J.Pleczar JR, Chan E.C.S. and Noel R. Krieg. Microbiology. Tata Mc GrawHill, 1993.

Powar. and Daginawala. General Microbiology.

Rangaswami and Bagyaraj D.J. Agricultural Microbiology.