''Hexamita'' is a
genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...
of
parasitic
Parasitism is a close relationship between species, where one organism, the parasite, lives on or inside another organism, the host, causing it some harm, and is adapted structurally to this way of life. The entomologist E. O. Wilson has c ...
diplomonad
The diplomonads (Greek for "two units") are a group of flagellates, most of which are parasitic. They include ''Giardia duodenalis'', which causes giardiasis in humans. They are placed among the metamonads, and appear to be particularly close r ...
s. It is related to ''
Giardia
''Giardia'' ( or ) is a genus of anaerobic flagellated protozoan parasites of the phylum Metamonada that colonise and reproduce in the small intestines of several vertebrates, causing the disease giardiasis. Their life cycle alternates between ...
''.
''H. columbae'' and ''H. meleagridis'' live in the intestines of birds.
''H. muris'' and ''H. pitheci'' live in the intestines of mammals.
''H. salmonis'' and ''H. truttae'' live in the intestines of fish.
The genus also includes the species ''
Hexamita inflata
''Hexamita'' is a genus of parasitic diplomonads. It is related to ''Giardia''.
''H. columbae'' and ''H. meleagridis'' live in the intestines of birds.
''H. muris'' and ''H. pitheci'' live in the intestines of mammals.
''H. salmonis'' and ''H. ...
''.
It is believed that ''Hexamita'' parasites are one possible cause for
head and lateral line erosion ("hole-in-the-head disease") in aquarium fishes.
References
External links
* http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Hexamita
*
* http://www.lexic.us/definition-of/Hexamita
Metamonads
{{parasite-stub