[Study of an oral protozoan Trichomonas tenax using scanning and transmission electron microscopy].

The study with scanning and transmission electron microscopy of Trichomonas tenax gave morphological information on this protozoon. The oval-shaped cell body showed at the anterior pole four free flagella and a trailing flagellum which had an undulating membrane. The axostyle which consisted of microtubules and produced the cellular rigidity emerged at the posterior pole. An ovoid nucleus and a well-developed Golgi apparatus were located at the anterior pole. At the latter, a pelta consisting of horizontal microtubulus surrounding the kinetoplats from which started the flagella was also found. No mitochondria were observed: they were replaced by chromatin granules or hydrogenosomes. Numerous vacuoles and developing vesicles were found in the cytoplasm. Phagocytized bacteria were in an advanced stage of lysis. Others seemed intact showing even division phases.