Seroparasitological Investigation of Trichomoniasis in Women Referred to Healthcare Centers of Rasht City

Background and Aims: Trichomoniasis is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases caused by the parasite Trichomonas vaginalis. The most important point about this infection is diagnosis and treatment of the patients and their sexual partners, in order to prevent infection spread. In the present study direct smear, staining, culture and indirect immunofluorescence antibody methods were used for the diagnosis of this organism. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on 120 women who were referred to healthcare centers of Rasht city during April to September 2015. The histories of the patients were collected as questionnaires. Biopsies of the cervical and posterior vaginal secretions were collected for direct smear and the slides were prepared for H & E staining. The samples were cultured in TYI-S-33 medium as well asbeing tested for the presence of antibody through indirect immunofluorescence method. Results and Conclusions: Out of the 120 samples that were checked, the results of different methods showed that among the diagnostic methods, except for indirect immunofluorescence, only one infected specimen of T. vaginalis was positive in culture (0.83%). By using indirect immunofluorescence antibody test, the number of patients detected as infected with T. vaginalis were increased to seven (5.83%). The sexually transmitted diseases represent similar symptoms and signs and it is therefore better that gynecologists use the laboratory diagnostic results in order to prescribe suitable drugs. Diagnosis using culture medium is a lengthy process whilst most of the other methods used in this study have a low sensitivity and specificity. It is therefore recommended to use immunofluorescence antibody test for the diagnosis of T. vaginalis infections since it has a high sensitivity and specificity and is also relatively easy to use.