Trypanosomatida

This article is about the order Trypanosomatida, see also the genus Trypanosoma.

Trypanosomatida is a group of kinetoplastid protozoans distinguished by having only a single flagellum. The name is derived from the Greek trypano (borer) and soma (body) because of the corkscrew-like motion of some trypanosomatid species. All members are exclusively parasitic, found primarily in insects. A few genera have life-cycles involving a secondary host, which may be a vertebrate, invertebrate or plant. These include several species that cause major diseases in humans.