INTESTINAL PARASITES (Protozoa)
ZOOMASTIGOPHOREA Order: Diplomonadidae

CHILOMASTIX MESNILI

chil1-ic

C. mesnili: commensal or non pathogenic flagellate of the intestinal tract.
Transmission occurs by faecal-oral route and the presence of the flagellate
in faeces is sign of fecal contamination and poor alimentary hygiene.
(Cyst, wet mount).

chil2-ic	chilomastix1

C.mesnili: cysts are excreted with faeces and constitue
the transmission form of the microorganism.
The uninucleated lemon-shaped cysts measure 6-10 by 4-6 µm
with a little protuberance at one end and a prominent cytostome.
(Cyst, iodine stain).

chilomastix1: C.mesnili: pearshaped cyst with one nucleus (Lugol stain).

chil3-ic

C.mesnili: trophozoites live in the colon. They measure 6-24 by 3-10 µm,
have a long cytostome (1/3-1/2 lenght of the body) and 3 anterior flagella.
(Trophozoite, wet mount).

chil4-ic

C.mesnili: the parasite is considered an harmless commensal of the intestinal tract.
(Trophozoite, wet mount, relief photograph).

chil5-ic

Chilomastix mesnili: cysts are usually ovoid shaped, 8-12 X 7-10 µm in size. 
On one pole there is a tubercle. Stained fecal film. 
Wheatley modification of Gomori‘s trichrome technique. 
Objective 100 X

Cmes_gg-ic

Chilomastix mesnili: trophozoite observed with phase contrast microscopy.