Murine models of vaginal trichomonad infections.

Trichomonas vaginalis and Tritrichomonas foetus cause common sexually transmitted infections in humans and cattle, respectively. Mouse models of trichomoniasis are important for pathogenic and therapeutic studies. Here, we compared murine genital infections with T. vaginalis and T. foetus. Persistent vaginal infection with T. foetus was established with 100 parasites but T. vaginalis infection required doses of 10(6), perhaps because of greater susceptibility to killing by mouse vaginal polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Infection with T. vaginalis persisted longest after combined treatment of mice with estrogen and dexamethasone, whereas infection was only short-lived when mice were given estrogen or dexamethasone alone, co-infected with Lactobacillus acidophilus, and/or pretreated with antibiotics. Infection rates were similar with metronidazole-resistant (MR) and metronidazole-sensitive (MS) T. vaginalis. High dose but not low dose metronidazole treatment controlled infection with MS better than MR T. vaginalis. These murine models will be valuable for investigating the pathogenesis and treatment of trichomoniasis.

The in vitro effect of Assafoetida on Trichomonas vaginalis.

Assafoetida is an oleo-gum resin obtained from the roots and stems of many Ferula species such as F. foetida Regel, F. asafoetida Linn, F. alliacea Boiss. and F. narthex Boiss, family Umbelliferae (carrot family), plants growing indigenously in Iran, Afghanistan and north of India. Assafoetida is commonly used as a flavoring agent in food and as a traditional medicine for many diseases in many parts of the world. In this work, the effect of Assafoetida on growth of Trichomonas vaginalis in vitro was studied and compared to metronidazole as a reference drug. It showed that Assafoetida had a potent antiparasitic effect on T. vaginalis compared to metronidazole, thus, worth further investigation to study its applicability in treatment of parasitic infections.

Frecuencia de trichomoniasis vaginal en mujeres suspuestamente sanas / Frequency of vaginal trichomonosis in apparently sound women

Se realizó un estudio de la frecuencia de trichomoniasis en 5 hospitales de diferentes municipios de Ciudad de La Habana, en un total de 427 mujeres sin antecedentes de enfermedades ginecológicas que acudieron a los laboratorios de microbiología de esos centros en el período comprendido entre mayo y septiembre de 1997. Treinta y cinco mujeres del total estudiado resultaron ser portadoras de Trichomonas vaginalis, lo cual se corresponde con una frecuencia de positividad de 8,2 porciento. De acuerdo con la edad, el mayor porcentaje de positividad (16,1) correspondió al grupo comprendido entre 15 y 20 años. El diagnóstico por el método de cultivo in vitro resultó tener una mayor sensibilidad con respecto al examen directo del exudado vaginal. El tiempo de lectura a las 48 h aportó la mayor positividad diagnóstica

The relationship of experimental pathogenicity in vivo with in vitro cytoadherence and cytotoxicity of 6 different isolates of Trichomonas vaginalis.

The experimental pathogenic effects in vivo and in vitro of 6 different isolates of Trichomonas vaginalis were studied following their inoculation into NMRI mice and on to adherent cultures of HeLa cells. Contact between the parasite and the adherent monolayer of cells was necessary to induce the monolayer to detach. The strains which were more virulent to mice also showed a greater weighted index of adherence; the weighted index of cytotoxicity in vitro did not, on the other hand, correlate with experimental pathology in vivo.

Infections of the lower genital tract

The main symptoms of vaginitis is discharge, which is usually irritating and frequently odorous. The common causes of vaginitis in adults are fungi or protozoa (bacterial vaginitis occurs mainly in children and women who have passed the menopause). The cause can usually be determined quite easily from the clinical appearance of the vagina and from the findings on microscopic examination of a fresh sample of the vaginal secretion. Most vaginal infections respond well to the appropriate treatment, but the diagnosis must be accurate. Numerous proprietary preparations have been advocated for the treatment of vaginitis, have had their brief flurry of popularity, and are now forgotten. Pessaries containing various combinations of antibiotics are seldom effective and-because the vagina depends on a normal bacterial flora for its well-being-often do positive harm (AU)