Trichodina: Taxonomy

Trichodina
Trichodina is a genus of ciliate alveolates protozoa that is ectocommensal or parasitic on aquatic

animals, particularly fish. They are characterised by dorsoventrally flattened oval ciliated body found in
marine and freshwater species of fish. From side it is saucer shaped. Distinctive character of this
protozoa is the presence of prominent denticular ring of interlocking cytoskeletal denticles, which
provide support for the cell and allow for adhesion to surfaces including fish tissue.. They lives on mulm
of subsuate; flsh body somewhat acts as substratum .They feed upon suspended particles in water,
bacteria and dead skin cells of fish .Found on skin and gills and sometimes on urogenital system.
Taxonomy
Trichodinids are members of the peritrichous ciliates, a paraphyletic group within Oligohymenophorea.
Specifically, they are mobiline peritrichs because they are capable of locomotion, as opposed to sessiline
peritrichs such as Vorticella and Epistylis, which adhere to the substrate via a stalk or lorica. There are
over 150 species in the genus Trichodina .
Classification:
Corliss (1974) stated that the protozoan taxonomy has been plagued with instability as there has been a
great confusion as regards the classification in such fields as protozoan taxonomy, primarily because of
large accumulation of new information and new kinds of data. According to Levine et al. (1980) one of
the principal sources of many new data of taxonomic significance has been electron microscopy.
Modem ichthyoprotozoologists follow Levine et al. (1980) for classifying the protozoan symbionts or
parasites. Levine et al. (1980) have considered Protozoa as a subkingdom. Consisting of seven phyla:
1. Sarcomastigophora,
2. Labyrinthoiflorpha,
3. Apicomplexa,
4. Microspora,
5. Ascetosporsa,
6. Myxozoa and
7. Ciliophora.
Under the phylum Ciliophora Daflein, 1901 three classes, viz., Kinetofragminophorea De Puytorac et al.
1974; and Polymenophorea Jankowski, 1967 have been recognized. Among these, class
Oligophymenophorea has been categorized into two subclasses, viz., 1-lymenostomatia Delage and
Herourad, 1986 and Peritrichia Stein, 1959. Subclass Peritricha is again divided into order Peritrichia
Stein, 1859 which includes: two suborders, viz., Sessilina Kahi, 1935 and Mobilina Kahl. 1935. The latter
suborder includes the trichodinid ciliates. The same scheme of classification has been followed in the
present thesis.
Identity of Trichodinid Ciliates:

Out of the five families of the Order Mobilina only the Trichodinidae included ciliates with complex
denticles in the adhesive disc. The main features by which genera of the family Trichodinidae are
distinguished are based on the morphology of the denticles in the adhesive disc, as well as the
development of the adoral ciliary spiral. Up to now based on these features 10 genera are identified
within the family. These are as follows :
1. Dipartiella Stein, 1961,
2. Triparliella Loin, 1959,
3. Trichodinella (Raabe, 1950) Sramek-1-Iusek, 1953,
4 Semitrichodina Kazubski, 1958,
5. Hemitrichodina Basson and Van As, 1989,
6. Paratrichodina Lom, 1963,
7. Pallitrichodina, Van As and Basson, 1993
8. Trichodina Ehrenberg, 1830,
9. Trichodoxa Sirgel, 1983 and
10. Vauchomia Mueller, 1938.
Morphology
Trichodinids are round ciliates that may be disc-shaped or hemispherical. The cytostome (cell mouth) is
on the surface that faces away from the host; this is termed the oral surface. The other side, or aboral
surface, attaches to the skin of the host or other substrate. There is a spiral of cilia leading towards the
cytostome and several rings of cilia at the periphery of the cell, responsible for creating adhesive suction
and locomotory power. In the taxonomy of trichodinids, the exact number, shape and arrangement of
the cytoskeletal denticles is critical for determining taxonomic relationships. These characters are
usually revealed by silver nitrate staining of microscope slides, which stains the cell cytoplasm black and
leaves the denticles white.
Life history
Trichodinids have a simple direct life cycle. That is, they have a single host and do not use alternation of
generations or mass asexual replication off the host. They reproduce by binary fission, literally cell-
splitting. This produces daughter cells with half the number of denticles of the parent cell. The full
complement of denticles is restored by synthesis of new denticles from the outer edge of the cell,
working inwards. Trichodinids are typically found on the gills, skin and fins of fishes, though some
species parasitize the urogenital system. A range of invertebrates is also host to trichodinid infections,
including the surfaces of copepods and the mantle cavity of mollusks. Transmission occurs by direct
contact of infected and uninfected hosts, and also by active swimming of trichodinids from one host to
another. Trichodina cells swim with the aboral surface facing forwards. On surfaces, they move laterally,
with the aboral surface facing the substrate.
Important of study on Piscean trichodinid

Among the trichodinids, there are ectoparasities and endoparasites, parasites of the skin, gills and also
parasites are often ‘ presumed’ as the causative agents of severe epizooties outbreaks in fishes because
their development is direct and is not dependent on intermediate hosts (Lom,l95 8). Representatives of
Trichodina and Trzpartiella are frequently recorded from the gills of the affected fishes (Das and Das,
1993). Most like peritrichs are commonly found in all parts of the world which regularly invade the skin,
gills, intestine and urinary bladder as well as reproductive system of freshwater and marine fishes
(Hoffman, 1978). To overcome this problem, detailed knowledge of protozoan parasites including the
trichodinids is essential.

Trichodina: Taxonomy

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Trichodina: Taxonomy

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Trichodina: Taxonomy

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Trichodina

Trichodina is a genus of ciliate alveolates protozoa that is ectocommensal or parasitic on aquatic

Identity of Trichodinid Ciliates:

1. Dipartiella Stein, 1961,

2. Triparliella Loin, 1959,

3. Trichodinella (Raabe, 1950) Sramek-1-Iusek, 1953,

4 Semitrichodina Kazubski, 1958,

5. Hemitrichodina Basson and Van As, 1989,

6. Paratrichodina Lom, 1963,

7. Pallitrichodina, Van As and Basson, 1993

8. Trichodina Ehrenberg, 1830,

9. Trichodoxa Sirgel, 1983 and

10. Vauchomia Mueller, 1938.

Important of study on Piscean trichodinid

You might also like