- 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.