Comparative analysis of Tritrichomonas foetus (Riedmüller, 1928) cat genotype, T. foetus (Riedmüller, 1928) cattle genotype and Tritrichomonas suis (Davaine, 1875) at 10 DNA loci

► Ten molecular markers revealed genetic distinctness between the feline and bovine isolates of Tritrichomonas foetus. ► Cysteine protease 2 is the most divergent gene suitable for routine genotyping of T. foetus isolates. ► Ten molecular markers provided evidence for the identity of the bovine genotype of T. foetus and Tritrichomonas suis. ► On objective nomenclatural grounds T. foetus takes the priority over T. suis, therefore resolving >50 years old controversy. ► It promotes the stability of T. foetus for the economically significant venereal parasite causing bovine trichomonosis.