Kinetoplastid
The kinetoplastids are a group of single-cell flagellate eukaryotes. They include a number of parasites responsible for serious diseases in humans and other animals. There are also forms found in soil and aquatic environments. They are members of the phylum Euglenozoa.
| Kinetoplastids | |
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| Trypanosoma cruzi parasites | |
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| Class: | Kinetoplastida
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Their main distinguishing feature is the presence of a kinetoplast, a DNA-containing granule inside the single mitochondrion at the base of the cell's flagella (the basal body).
The kinetoplastids were first defined by Honigberg in 1961 as the flagellate order Kinetoplastida.[1] They are traditionally divided into the biflagellate Bodonidae and uniflagellate Trypanosomatidae.
The Trypanosomatidae includes several genera which are exclusively parasitic. Trypanosoma brucei causes Sleeping sickness; Trypanosoma cruzi causes Chagas disease, Leishmania causes leishmaniasis, Crithidia is parasitic on insects, and Cryptobia is an ectoparasite on the gills of fish.
Bodo is typical of the free-living Bodonids, and includes various species which feed on bacteria.
Kinetoplastid Media
Bodo sp.
Trypanosoma forms in blood smear from patient with African trypanosomiasis. Parasite.
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References
- ↑ Honigberg B.M. "A contribution to systematics of the non-pigmented flagellates.". In Ludvík J; Lom J.; Vávra J. (eds.). Progress in Protozoology: proceedings of the first International Congress on protozoology held at Prague. Academic Press.