Trichomonas vaginalis
Trichomonas vaginalis is a flagellated protozoan parasitizing the human reproductive tract. It is extracellular and feeds upon tissue exudates and bacteria. This species does not have an encysted stage because it is transmitted venereally and does not need to survive dessication. You should be able to identify the nucleus, parabasal body, axostyle, anterior flagella and undulating membrane.
The image below was taken from filmstrip frames in: Medical Parasitology, 3rd. edition. Edward K. Markell & Henrietta Voge.
Filmstrip II, Frame 34
Trichomonas vaginalis trophozoite
The image below was produced by Dr. H. Zaiman
Trichomonas vaginalis trophozoite
This page © 2000. Dept. of Zoology, University of Manitoba.