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Kinetoplastida

An order of flagellate protozoa. Characteristics include the presence of one or two flagella arising from a depression in the cell body and a single mitochondrion that extends the length of the body. Another major characteristic is the presence of a kinetoplast which is a big mass oof dna found within a large mitichondria which extends throughout the lengthe of the body. Most of them are parasitic and are known to cause diseases on vertebrates and invertebartes.