INTESTINAL TRICHOMONIASIS DUE TO TRITRICHOMONAS-MOBILENSIS IN TREE SHREWS (TUPAIA-BELANGERI)

Intestinal trichomoniasis was observed in 156 of 202 Tupaia belangeri (77.2%), The parasites were located principally in the cecum (75%) and were far less common in the proximal portion of the colon (19%) or te rminal. portion of the ileum (6%). Advanced trichomoniasis was associa ted with liquid cecal contents but not diarrhea. The trichomonads had a tendency to penetrate the mucosal epithelial layer, causing desquama tion of entire crypts, They never penetrated the epithelial basement m embrane and never triggered inflammatory responses. The trichomonads w ere characterized by three anterior flagella and one trailing flagellu m that extended over the entire parasite body, connected to it by an u ndulating membrane, The capitulum of the straight axostyle formed a sm all but well defined pelta, and the stout costa had distinct banding, The parasites thereby matched the description of Tritrichomonas mobile nsis.