Trichomonas gallinae, in comparison to Tetratrichomonas gallinarum, induces distinctive cytopathogenic effects in tissue cultures

In the present study the interaction of three genetically different clonal cultures of Trichomonas gallinae and Tetratrichomonas gallinarum with a permanent chicken liver (LMH) and a permanent quail fibroblast (QT35) cell culture was studied. Proliferation of T. gallinae cells was associated with a disintegration of the cell monolayer. The initial lesions on the LMH monolayer consisted of a progressive accumulation of the flagellate, forming clumps attached to the monolayer. A prolonged incubation time was characterized by appearance of holes in the cell monolayer with accumulation of trichomonads at their periphery. According to the severeness of the monolayer disruption differences among three tested T. gallinae clones were noticed. Furthermore, filtrates obtained either from axenic cultures of T. gallinae or from infected cell cultures produced a cytopathogenic effect similar to the protozoal cells, on both types of cell cultures. However, the destructive effect of the flagellates and their cell-free filtrates was much more pronounced on the LMH monolayer in comparison with the QT35 cells. Furthermore, freshly seeded LMH and QT35 cells suspended in cell-free filtrates of T. gallinae were unable to form a confluent monolayer. In comparison to T. gallinae, clonal cultures of T. gallinarum or their cell-free filtrates produced no effect on both types of monolayers. Interestingly, the cell-free filtrates obtained from both trichomonad species had an effect on the viability of both cell cultures. However, the cytotoxic effect of T. gallinarum filtrates was less severe than that recorded by T. gallinae. Consequently, for the first time a destruction of specified monolayers induced by T. gallinae-free filtrates could be demonstrated.