Are Tritrichomonas foetus and Tritrichomonas suis synonyms?

Trends Parasitol. 2005 Mar;21(3):122-5. doi: 10.1016/j.pt.2004.12.001.

Abstract

Tritrichomonas suis, a tritrichomonad of pigs, and the related species Tritrichomonas foetus, a tritrichomonad of cattle, are morphologically identical. The taxonomic relationship between these two tritrichomonads has been questioned ever since they were established as distinct species in 1843 and 1928, respectively. Here, we compare the similarities of morphology, ultrastructure, distribution, host specificity, characteristics of in vitro cultivation, immunology, biochemistry and analysis of molecular data from published sources between these two species. All data indicate that these two tritrichomonad species are identical. Thus, we propose that T. foetus and T. suis are synonyms.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cattle
  • Cattle Diseases / parasitology*
  • Host-Parasite Interactions
  • Phylogeny
  • Protozoan Infections / parasitology
  • Protozoan Infections, Animal*
  • Species Specificity
  • Swine
  • Swine Diseases / parasitology*
  • Tritrichomonas / classification*
  • Tritrichomonas / physiology
  • Tritrichomonas / ultrastructure
  • Tritrichomonas foetus / classification
  • Tritrichomonas foetus / physiology
  • Tritrichomonas foetus / ultrastructure