Lab Diagnosis of Trichomonas vaginalis infections

Trichomonas vaginalis in sample

Trichomonas vaginalis is a protozoan parasite. It causes trichomoniasis; a sexually transmitted infection. The primary habitat of this organism is the vagina and prostate.
In infected females, it causes itching and burning accompanied by a profuse, foul-smelling, yellow-green vaginal discharge (about 25% of women are symptomatic). Infected males are generally asymptomatic, some (about 10%) may develop urethritis. It is not possible to diagnose trichomoniasis based on these symptoms alone.

Note: Trichomonas vaginalis is not an exclusive parasite of women, it also infects men.

Life cycle of Trichomonas vaginalis
Life cycle of Trichomonas vaginalis (image source: CDC)

Sample

 Specimen can be collected by using urogenital swabs.

  1. Female: Urine sediment, vaginal secretions
  2. Male: Urethral discharge or prostate secretions or first few drops of voided urine

Sample for culture should be placed into a tube containing 0.5mL of sterile saline or commercially available plastic envelopes for direct examination and culture (InPouch TV, BIOMED) immediately.

Methods

  1. Microscopy and staining:
Trophozoite of Trichomonas vaginalis
Trophozoite of Trichomonas vaginalis

Direct microscopic examination of a wet preparation of sample (vaginal discharge) provides the simplest rapid diagnostic test for vaginalis. It includes detection of pear-shaped trophozoites (only form; there is no cyst form) of T. vaginalis in a wet mount with typical jerky motility. Direct fluorescent Antibody (DFA) stain can be used to visualize the parasite.

Morphological features of Trophozoites: 

1. Pear-shaped organism with a central nucleus and four anterior flagella.
2. It has an undulating membrane that extends about 2/3rd of its length.

(Watch the video of vaginal discharge observed under phase-contrast microscopy here)

Culture: Culture is a very sensitive (95%) procedure for the diagnosis of trichomoniasis. It is recommended when a direct smear is negative. Johnson’s and Trussel’s medium gives a good growth of T. vaginalis. It consists of proteose peptone, NaCl, sodium thioglycolate, and human serum. It grows best at 35°C-37°C anaerobic conditions and less well aerobically. The optimal pH for growth is 5.5 to 6.0.  T. vaginalis can be cultured in commercially available diamond medium or plastic envelopes.

Serology: Better serologic test for T. vaginalis is not available.

Molecular Methods: Polymerase chain reactions (PCR) and nucleic acid hybridization methods can be used to detect T.vaginalis directly in clinical specimens. Aptima Trichomonas vaginalis Assay is a nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) for the detection of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) of Trichomonas vaginalis. It utilizes Target Capture, Transcription-Mediated Amplification (TMA), and Hybridization Protection Assay (HPA) technologies and aid in the diagnosis of trichomoniasis using the Tigris DTS System or the Panther System.

References

  1. Madigan Michael T, Bender, Kelly S, Buckley, Daniel H, Sattley, W. Matthew, & Stahl, David A. (2018). Brock Biology of Microorganisms (15th Edition). Pearson.
  2. Color Atlas and Textbook of Diagnostic Microbiology, Koneman, 5th edition

Acharya Tankeshwar

Hello, thank you for visiting my blog. I am Tankeshwar Acharya. Blogging is my passion. As an asst. professor, I am teaching microbiology and immunology to medical and nursing students at PAHS, Nepal. I have been working as a microbiologist at Patan hospital for more than 10 years.

9 thoughts on “Lab Diagnosis of Trichomonas vaginalis infections

  1. Sir, your posts is quit interesting, but I found it very difficult to download it. Can you please help me?

  2. Can u explain about lateral flow assay and flow through assay in hiv and hbs ag rapid test

  3. thanks for info. Would like to know is trichomonas infection limited to human beings or animals such as the Bovine spp. can also be infected? Is there trichomoniasis in cows?

  4. Please do you have any idea on ho to extract DNA from Trichomonas tenax from clinical samples and culture medium? I have been trying to do that with a commercial kit but to no avail. I couldn’t get any amplification.
    Thanks .
    Jimoh

    1. Dear Jimoh, in our Microbiology laboratory, we do not perform molecular techniques for the diagnosis of Trichomonas infections. So, i am unable to share my experience in this.

  5. Prof, hello? I do read your posts almost like daily. They are so refreshing and quite informative. They also do help me a lot in my teachings at University, thank you.

    1. Thank you so much for your inspiring comment. Let ms know if you want me to write in any topic of your interest.

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