Trichomonas vaginalis

Trichomonas vaginalis is one of the protozoa of the Protozoa that causes urogenital infections. It has a typical structure with four flagella. The fifth flagellum is the shortest and is formed by an undulating membrane. The flagella and the undulating membrane ensure movement of the T. vaginalis . Trichomonas occurs mainly in the vegetative form and does not form cysts. It multiplies by binary division. It causes a condition called urogenital trichomoniasis, or Trichomoniasis urogenitalis. This disease does not leave immunity. It is widespread worldwide.

Mechanism of infection
It is transmitted through sexual intercourse, objects contaminated with urine or vaginal secretions. Outside the host's body, they have little resistance, are particularly sensitive to dryness, and die quickly without a humid environment. They can survive in water for several hours, in urine and all day.

Symptoms and pathogenesis
Trichomonas vaginalis infection causes a wide range of clinical symptoms in women, from asymptomatic infection to vaginitis, which is more extensive. Disruption of the epithelial barrier manifests as itching, burning and pain when urinating. Only 50% of infected women develop the disease within six months. In men, 50-90% of infections are asymptomatic, in some cases the infection manifests as urethritis, prostatitis and rarely epididymitis. Symptoms are affected by the physiological state of the host.

Vaginitis
Vaginitis is manifested by burning, feelings of pressure in the lower abdomen, itching, yellow-green sweet-smelling discharge with a number of leukocytes, sexual difficulties (eg algopareunia).

Microscopic

 * Vaginal smear, in vivo observation or stained with Giemsa ( vaginal microbial image ),
 * urinary sediment ,
 * urethral swab ,
 * prostate extract ,
 * ejaculate.

Cultivation
Special soil for trichomonads supplemented with horse or ram inactivated serum, which has a greater capture than the microscopic method.

Therapy and prevention
We treat all sexual partners with metronidazole or tinidazole. Prevention is sufficient personal hygiene, caution in public toilets and the practice of safe sex.

Complication
T. vaginalis can cause preterm birth, low birth weight in women. In addition to inflammation, the parasite also causes lysis of epithelial cells and red blood cells in the vaginal area, thus disrupting the epithelial protective barrier. It therefore increases the risk of HIV transmission.

Related articles

 * Trichomonas vulvovaginitis
 * Sexually transmitted infections

Externí odkazy

 * Vaginitis (English wikipedia)

Reference

 * 1) BEDNÁŘ MAREK. Lékařská mikrobiologie: bakteriologie, virologie, parazitologie. 1. vyd. Praha: Marvil, 1996, 558 s.
 * 2) ↑ PARIA MIRMONSEF, Laurie Krass. The Role of Bacterial Vaginosis and Trichomonas in HIV Transmission Across The Female Genital Tract. 2012.