Structure of Trichomonas vaginalis Donne

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Abstract
The structure of Trichomonas vaginalis is described from direct smears of vaginal secretions and from axenic cultures. The employment of protargol stain and observations of living organisms with the aid of phase contrast clarified some of the hitherto inadequately understood morphological details and relationships. The former method was particularly helpful in revealing the structure of the parabasal apparatus and of the axostylar capitulum. The latter allowed a study of the motion and of the formation of pseudopodia; it was also found superior for the analysis of the distribution of cytoplasmic inclusions such as the paraxostylar and paracostal granules. The discussion includes a comparison of the urogenital trichomonad of man with the two closely related species, Trichomonas tenax and T. gallinae.