Fine structure of Trichomonas gallinae

The fine structure of Trichomonas gallinae is presented using different approaches: routine transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, freeze-fracture and cytochemical detection for carbohydrates, lipids and acid phosphatase. The zinc iodide-osmium tetroxide technique was used to analyse the distribution of the endoplasmic reticulum-Golgi complex system of T. gallinae. Imidazole-buffered osmium tetroxide solution was used to visualize lipids. We have focussed our results in the characterization of the organelles of this protozoan, showing size, shape and distribution of hydrogenosomes, Golgi complex, endoplasmic reticulum, nucleus, lysosomes and vacuoles. Exocytic and high digestive activities were demonstrated in T. gallinae.