A Multi-Omics Perspective on Tritrichomonas foetus: From Genomics to Future Directions

Abstract

Tritrichomonas foetus is an anaerobic flagellated protozoan that infects multiple animal hosts, primarily cattle and cats, with occasional isolation from pigs. It causes bovine trichomonosis, a venereal disease associated with infertility, abortion, and economic losses in cattle herd. In cats, T. foetus infects the gastrointestinal tract, causing chronic diarrhea which can be difficult to treat. Despite its broad impact, the pathogen is difficult to control because it evades immune responses and persists in host tissues. Recent advances in omics technologies, including genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics, have contributed to a better understanding of the parasite’s genetic structure, virulence, drug resistance mechanisms, and metabolic pathways. These findings have identified potential drug targets and paved the way for targeted therapies. However, the biology, pathogenicity, and host interactions with T. foetus are still not fully understood, and many aspects of its life cycle and molecular mechanisms remain to be elucidated. This review summarizes the latest omics research on T. foetus, highlighting its genetic diversity and host-specific adaptations, and outlines the gaps in our understanding.