Tachezy J., Tachezy R., Hampl V., Šedinová M., Vaňáčová Š, Vrlík M., Van Ranst M., Flegr J., Kulda J. (2002) Cattle pathogen Tritrichomonas foetus (Riedmüller, 1928) and pig commensal Tritrichomonas suis (Gruby & Delafond, 1843) belong to the same species. J. Eukaryot. Microbiol. 49 (2): 154-163

ISSN 0737-4038,

IF 1,739

GAUK 264/1999/B Bio/PřF

Abstract:
A number of reports suggest that the sexually transmitted pathogen of cattle, Tritrichomonas foetus, and a gastrointestinal commensal of pigs, Tritrichomonas suis, are,,cry similar and may be co-specific. A conclusive review of the taxonomic and nomenclatural status of these species has not been presented so far. Toward this end, we reexamined and compared porcine and bovine trichomonads with regard to their morphology. pathogenic potential. and DNA polymorphism. Using light and electron microscopy, no distinguishing features between T. foetus and T. suis strains were found in size, general morphology, kind karyomastigont structure. Both bovine and porcine trichomonads showed pathogenic potential in the subcutaneous mouse assays and did not separate into distinct groups according to strain virulence. Three DNA fingerprinting methods (i.e. RFLP. RAPD, and PCR-based analysis of variable-length DNA repeats) that produce species-specific DNA fragment patterns did not distinguish between rile bovine and porcine strains. Sequencing of a variable 502-bp DNA fragment as well as comparison of 16S rRNA gene sequences did not reveal species-specific differences between the cattle and porcine strains. Therefore. we conclude that T foettus and T. suis belong to the same species. To prevent confusion that may arise from T foetus-T suis synonymy, we propose to suppress the older name suis and maintain its accustomed junior synonym foetus as a nomen protectum for both cattle and porcine trichomonads. The case has been submitted to the International Commision on Zoological Nomenclature for ruling under its plenary power.
Author Keywords:
morphology; nomenclature; pathogenicity; RAPD; RFLP; taxonomy; Tritrichomonas augusta; Tritichomonas mobilensis; Tritrichomonas nonconforma; 16S rRNA TRICHOMONADID PROTOZOA; ATROPHIC RHINITIS; DNA; SEQUENCES; PCR; REGIONS; SWINE; FETUS; TREES