Ultrastructure of Trypanosoma lewisi

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Abstract
The ultrastructure of Trypanosoma lewisi was studied in the Sprague-Dawley rat and compared to that of other trypanosomes. The organism is encompassed by a double-layered unit membrane continuous with the limiting membrane of the flagellum. Intracytoplasmic hollow fibrils located adjacent to the inner layer of the limiting cell membrane course spirally in an anteroposterior direction. The flagellum with the usual 11 fibrils projects anteriorly from its origin near the posteriorly placed kinetoplast and blepharoplast. The kinetoplast contains cristae in addition to a folded membranous internal structure and often is associated with or connected to an elongate mitochondrion. Multiple electron-dense volutin granules which have been implicated in the antigenicity of the organism are located posterior to the kinetoplast. It is postulated that the intracytoplasmic fibrils may function to maintain the shape of the organism in a fluid medium.