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Life Cycle of Chilomastix Mesnili

Chilomastix mesnili is a single-cell parasite that comes under the general category of nonpathogenic intestinal protozoa, of which there are half a dozen species. It belongs to the family Tetramitidae. This parasite is most often found in the intestines and is considered harmless, even to people with compromised immune systems. Less than 5 percent of people in the United States are infected with the organism, reports the text "Foundations of Parasitology." Chilomastix mesnili has a seven-stage life cycle that depends on interaction with an animal host.

  1. Significance

    • Chilomastix mesnili sets up shop within the intestinal tract itself, specifically the colon. Although the organism is microscopic and can be found only through a stool sample test, it doesn't have the ability to enter the cells of the intestinal wall, nor is it capable of spreading to other parts of the body.

    Transmission

    • Chilomastix mesnili makes it into the human body via simple food or water contamination or the fecal-oral route. This means that transmission occurs from the feces of an infected individual to the mouth (by ingestion) of a new host. Even a minute amount of fecal matter, say, that which is left microscopically on the hand after a visit to the toilet, can get transferred to another person and cause infection.

    Early Life Cycle

    • Chilomastix is most often found in the environment housed within a cyst, which is created within the intestinal host. In the form of a cyst, the chilomastix gain protection from the environmental and are therefore more successful at finding entrance to another host. Individual trophozoites (adult chilomastix), as well as cysts, can be found in stool. Cysts are ingested through contaminated food or water, or fecal-orally.

    Late Life Cycle

    • Trophozoites are released to the external environment from out of the colon, and sometimes smaller intestine, of the infected host. Chilomastix, a commensal organism, is believed to neither harm nor benefit the host environment in which it resides and gains nourishment. This persistent protozoan is found worldwide.

    The Seven Stages

    • From the colon in human beings, the trophozoite is deposited to the environment. A cyst forms within the intestine. Cyst or trophozoite combines with fecal stream. Whole cyst reaches water or soil. Cyst is consumed via contaminated water or food. Trophozoites are released from out of the cyst into the intestinal environment. Chilomastix then multiply through nuclear division.

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