Tetratrichomonas didelphidis is a flagellated protozoan found in the intestine of opossums. The specimens were stained by the Giemsa method and by FLUTAX-2, an active fluorescent derivative of Taxol which binds to the ab-tubulin polimerized of microtubules of cells. Giemsa stain revealed the morphological features of trichomonads such as four anterior flagella, undulating membrane, axostyle and posterior flagellum. An intense fluorescence was observed in living trophozoites of T. didelphidis and Trichomonas vaginalis (used as control), incubated with FLUTAX-2. An analysis of the composition of the cytoskeleton of T. didelphidis will contribute to understanding the cellular morphology of the parasites.

Several diagnostic techniques have been employed for the detection of Trichomonas vaginalis. Microtubules constitute the cytoskeleton in eukaryotic cells and are sensitive to antimitotic drugs, such as Taxol (paclitaxel). We used FLUTAX a fluorescent taxoid - to analyze the microtubule distribution in living trophozoites of T. vaginalis in urine and in vaginal discharge. A high intensity of fluorescence was observed in living T. vaginalis, epithelial cells and leukocytes present in urine and vaginal discharge. Our preliminary results show the perspective of a new diagnostic technique for trichomonosis and will contribute to the understanding of the cytoskeleton of T. vaginalis.