6.2.3: Subphylum Mastigophora (Flagellates)

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    Giardia lamblia

    Resides: Proliferates within the small intestine

    Transmission: Acquired by inadvertent ingestion of water contaminated with cysts

    Disease: Causes Giardiasis (also known as beaver fever or traveler’s diarrhea)

    Other Information:

    • Freshwater flagellate
    • Beavers, nutria, and other aquatic mammals are known to be asymptomatic carriers
    • Protected by an outer shell - allows the parasite to survive for long periods of time outside of the body and is highly resistant to chlorination, may be found in public pools,

    hot tubs, etc.

    Giardia lamblia trophozoite.
    Giardia lamblia (trophozoite) Credit: Sherry Smith
    Giardia lamblia seen in a cytologic preparation from small bowel biopsy.
    Giardia lamblia seen in a cytologic preparation (cytospin of formalin from small bowel biopsy of a patient with giardia).
    Source: Jerad M Gardner, MD , Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0,
    Giardia lamblia life cycle diagram.
    Giardia Life Cycle Credit: PHIL, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

    Trichomonas vaginalis

    Resides: Vagina and urethra of women; urethra, prostate, and seminal vesicles of men Transmission: Sexual intercourse (lack of cyst stage requires direct transmission)

    Disease: Trichomoniasis (Females - vulvitis, vaginitis, cervicitis, salpingitis; Males - urethritis, prostatitis, epididymitis))

    Other Information:

    • Exists only in the trophozoite form
    • Worldwide distribution
    • May infect both males and females, but more common in females
    • Most infections are asymptomatic or mild
    Trichomonas vaginalis (trophozoite)
    Trichomonas vaginalis (trophozoite) Credit: Sherry Smith




    Trichomonas vaginalis life cycle diagram
    Trichomonas vaginalis life cycle.
    Source: Alexander J. da Silva, PhD; Melanie Moser, CDC PHIL, Public Domain



    Trypanosoma brucei

    Resides: Blood

    Transmission: Acquired through the bite of a tsetse fly

    Disease: African sleeping sickness (African Trypanosomiasis)

    Other Information:

    • There are two variants of Trypanosoma brucei
    • Trypanosoma brucei gambiense - occurs primarily in western Africa; cattle and sheep serve as reservoirs
    • Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense - occurs in eastern and southern Africa; several species of wild animals serve as reservoirs
    • Patients with this infection generally lapse into a coma
    • If left untreated is always fatal
    Trypanosoma brucei trypomastigotes (yellow arrows).
    Trypanosoma brucei trypomastigotes (yellow arrows) Credit: Sherry Smith

    Trypanosoma brucei life cycle diagram.
    “The life cycle of the parasite Trypanosoma brucei which has three proliferative life cycle stages, two in the tsetse fly vector and one in the mammalian host bloodstream.”
    Source: Zephyris, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0

    Trypanosoma cruzi

    Resides: Blood, thus the parasite is known as a hemoflagellate

    Transmission: Acquired through the bite of

    a Reduviid bug (also known as the “kissing bug”) Disease: Chaga’s disease

    Other Information:

    • Normally found in South and Central America
    Trypanosoma cruzi trypomastigotes (yellow arrow).
    Trypanosoma cruzi trypomastigotes (yellow arrow) Credit: Sherry Smith




    Trypanosoma cruzi life cycle diagram.
    Trypanosoma cruzi life cycle.
    Source: Alexander J. da Silva, PhD; Melanie Moser, CDC PHIL, Public Domain








    This page titled 6.2.3: Subphylum Mastigophora (Flagellates) was last modified on Sat, 25 Jul 2026 03:43:06 GMT and is shared under a CC BY 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Sherry Smith.