Factors influencing the prevalence and pathogenicity of Trichomoflas vaginalis

Trichomonas vaginalis is a common parasite of both male and female genital tracts. Transmission of the infection is mainly by sexual intercourse; however contaminated towels, douche equipments examination instruments and other objects may be responsible for some infections. Is to study the influence of some factors that affect the spread of this parasite such as socioeconomic status, marital status, pregnancy and parity etc. The study was conducted in the period from November 1992 to August 1993 on 480 female patients presented with vaginal discharge with or without itching, compared to 50 females complaining of gynecological problems other than infections. Investigations carried out during this study include: Wet mount examination. Culture on artificial media. Examination of fixed stained smear with: a.Gram's stain.Leischmans stain. Giemsa's stain.Papanicolaous stained smear. 4. Measuring the PH of the vaginal discharge or the PH of the vaginal side wall. The effect of some factors on the prevalence and pathology of Trichomonas vaginalis was evaluated in this study. Among different socioeconomic groups, the higher infection rate [65.22%] was seen in the low socioeconomic group. The infection rate of trichomoniasis was found to be higher among married females [19.81%], than divorced [16.66%], widowed [12.5%] or singles [11.11%]. Regarding the menstrual cycle, infection with Trichomonas vaginal/s was found to be increasing during the postmenstrual phase of the cycle [24.21%] compared to the infection rate obtained from patients in the premenstrual phase of the cycle [16.09%]. A higher infection rate was reported among non pregnant females [20%] than pregnant [9.09%].Females using different contraceptive measures showed an infection rate of [28.88%], which was higher than that reported among those not using any contraceptive measures [18.95%]. The PH values of the vaginal discharge were measured in 90 patients and the highest infection were seen at PH values 6.0 [28.88%] and 5.5 [20%] respectively. Conclusion: The spread of Trichomonas vagina/is infection may be affected by many factors such as socioeconomic status, marital status, pregnancy status and parity, phase of the menstrual cycle, the use of different contraceptive measures and the PH values of the vaginal discharge

Urethral trichomoniasis in Iraqi females

Trichomonas vaginalis has long been recognized as a cause of infectious vaginitis in women. Different studies have demonstrated a significant burden of the parasite to cause urethritis as well. It has been assumed that the localization of parasite in the urethra may be responsible for the recurrence of vaginal infection. To evaluate the infection rate of urethral trichomoniasis and to evaluate two different laboratory methods used in the diagnosis. The present study consisted of 420 female patients presented with vaginal discharge with or without itching or disorient, investigated for urethral trichomoniasis who were compared to 50 females represented the control group. Each female was asked to collect first 10-20 ml of urine in a sterile screw capped bottle; the deposits were examined microscopically by: 1. Wet mount method for Trichomonas vaginalis. 2. Culture in a specific ready made culture media. At the same time high vaginal swabs were taken and examined by both wet mount and culture methods for vaginal trichomoniasis. Among 420 female patients examined for both urine sediments and vaginal swabs, 80 [19.04%] females were found to be positive for T. vaginalis by vaginal swabs. The parasite was seen either in the vagina alone in 39 [9.28%] or in the vagina and urethra in 41[9.76%], but it was never isolated from urethra alone. Trichomonas vaginalis is a common parasite of female urethra as well as of the vagina, the localization of this flagellate in the urethra may be responsible for the recurrence of vaginal infection, since it may survive in the urethra, possibly in the paraurethral glands [skene's] so when the treatment is limited to the vagina, this will often fail to reach the urethra and the trichomonads may contaminate the vagina following urination or serial intercourse, that is why systemic rather than local treatment is indicated

study on the common microorganisms causing vaginitis

Inflammation of the vaginal mucosa is a common clinical syndrome. Women often complain of an abnormal discharge and possibly other symptoms such as offensive odor or itching. Trichomonas vaginalis .Candida albicans with other species of Candida are well recognized causes of vaginitis Another type of vaginitis referred to as bacterial vaginosis is believed to be caused by Gardnerella vaginalis However, a purulent discharge from the endocervix can be observed in some cases of cevicitis, the endocervix is the site from which Neisseria gonorrhoea is most frequently isolated in women with gonococcal infections. This study was concerned with the isolation of common microorganisms which may present in female abnormal vaginal discharge. The study was conducted in the period from November 1992 to August 1993 on 480 female patients presented with vaginal discharge with or without pruritis vulvae attended the Gynecological and Antenatal Outpatient Clinics in Baghdad Medical City compared to 50 females complaining of gynecological problems other than infection attended the same clinic. Different laboratory methods were carried out during this work to isolate Trichomonas vaginalis, Candida species, Gardnerella vaginalis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Among 480 female patients subjected to this study, 92 were positive for Trichomonas vaginalis [19.16%], Candida species were found in 118 patients [24.58%], Gardnerella vaginalis was reported in 94 [19.58%], while Neisseria gonorrhoea was seen in 8 patients [1.66%]. Infection with both Trichomonas vaginalis and Gardnerella vaginalis was reported in 22 patients [23.91%], simultaneous infection of Trichomonas vaginalis and Candida species was reported in 5 cases [5.43%], and in 7 patients combined infection of both Trichomonas vaginalis and Neisseria gonorrhoea was seen [7.6%]. The highest rate of combined infection was seen in infected cases with both Trichomonas vaginalis and Gardnerella vaginalis, since both favor the growth in similar environment especially in [PH>4.5]. Trichomonas vaginalis might be responsible for the change in normal vaginal flora and may therefore precipitate bacterial vaginosis