Flagellates of the Intestinal and Urogenital
Tractscontinued
Clinical Microbiology Review 242
FLAGELLATE TROPH CYST TRANSMISSION PATHOGENIC? OTHER
Urogenital
tract
Trichomonas
vaginalis
Only flagellate
in urogenital
tract. Dx by
wet mount
(jerky motility),
culture, rapid
antigen tests,
PCR.
5–18 μm. 4 anterior flagella,
undulating membrane that
extends half the body length.
None Sexual Yes
(From Leventhal R, Cheadle RF. Medical Parasitology: A Self-
Instructional Text, 5th ed. Philadelphia: FA Davis; 2002:103.)
