Some of their typical features include a prominent adhesive disc, axostyle, costa, and six flagella – one of which is attached to an undulating membrane that runs laterally along the body.

Cochlosoma was first described by Kotlán (1923) to include C. anatis, a flagellate he found in the intestines of young European domestic ducks (Anas platyrhynchos) suffering from coccidiosis.

Cochlosoma rostratum was identified in North American domestic ducks by Kimura in 1934, although this species is now recognized as a synonym of C.anatis.

[4] However, morphological and ultrastructural observations (i.e. parabasal apparatus, pelta, costa, and axostyle) suggest the genus is more likely related to trichomonads and in 1996, Pecka et al. moved Cochlosoma to order Trichomonadida.

Their anterior end is truncated by a spiraled adhesive disc that is used to attach to the intestinal mucosa of the host.

A recurrent flagellum is attached to the cell body by an undulating membrane and is free at the posterior end.

[7][8] Infection of Cochlosoma species has also been associated with runting and catarrhal enteritis in wild and domestic turkey poults and ducklings.

[11] Cochlosoma attach themselves onto the host via suction which leaves microscopic lesions and swelling on the surface epithelium.

[1] The most notable case directly associated with Cochlosoma occurred in Scotland in 1945 when an outbreak resulted in severe enteritis and high mortality rates in turkey poults.