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[Pentatrichomonas hominis]

There is no known cyst stage for Pentatrichomonas hominis.  Trophozoites are pyriform in shape, measuring 6-20 µm long.  They possess five flagella:  four directed anteriorly and a fifth directed posteriorly, that forms the outer edge of the undulating membrane and projects beyond the posterior as a free flagellum.  The axostyle is slender and projects from the posterior end.  The single nucleus is located at the anterior end and contains a small karyosome.

A	B

A, B: Trophozoites of P. hominis in a stool specimen, stained with trichrome.

C	D

C: Trophozoite of P. hominis in a stool specimen, stained with trichrome.
D: Two trophozoites of P. hominis in a stool specimen, stained with trichrome.

E	F

E: Trophozoites of P. hominis in a stool specimen, stained with trichrome.
F: Trophozoite of P. hominis in a stool specimen, stained with iron hematoxylin.