Optimization of Trichomonas vaginalis Diagnosis during Pregnancy at a University Hospital, Argentina.
10.3347/kjp.2016.54.2.191
- Author:
Pamela TESTARDINI
1
;
María Lucía Gallo VAULET
;
Andrea Carolina ENTROCASSI
;
Claudia MENGHI
;
Martha Cora ELISEHT
;
Claudia GATTA
;
Mirta LOSADA
;
María Sol TOUZÓN
;
Ana COROMINAS
;
Carlos VAY
;
Silvio TATTI
;
Angela FAMIGLIETTI
;
Marcelo Rodriguez FERMEPIN
;
Beatriz PERAZZI
Author Information
1. Clinical Bacteriology Laboratory, Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Hospital de Clínicas, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina. bperazzi@ffyb.uba.ar, hugodandrea@ciudad.com.ar
- Publication Type:Brief Communication
- Keywords:
Trichomonas vaginalis;
diagnosis;
pregnancy;
Argentina
- MeSH:
Argentina*;
Culture Media;
Diagnosis*;
Exudates and Transudates;
Female;
Genes, rRNA;
Humans;
Polymerase Chain Reaction;
Pregnancy*;
Pregnant Women;
Sensitivity and Specificity;
Sodium Chloride;
Trichomonas vaginalis*;
Trichomonas*
- From:The Korean Journal of Parasitology
2016;54(2):191-195
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
The aim of this study was to evaluate different methods for Trichomonas vaginalis diagnosis during pregnancy in order to prevent maternal and perinatal complications. A total of 386 vaginal exudates from pregnant women were analyzed. T. vaginalis was investigated by 3 types of microscopic examinations direct wet mount with physiologic saline solution, prolonged May-Grunwald Giemsa (MGG) staining, and wet mount with sodium-acetate-formalin (SAF)/methylene blue method. PCR for 18S rRNA gene as well as culture in liquid medium were performed. The sensitivity and specificity of the microscopic examinations were evaluated considering the culture media positivity or the PCR techniques as gold standard. The frequency of T. vaginalis infection was 6.2% by culture and/or PCR, 5.2% by PCR, 4.7% by culture, 3.1% by SAF/methylene blue method and 2.8% by direct wet smear and prolonged MGG staining. The sensitivities were 83.3%, 75.0%, 50.0%, and 45.8% for PCR, culture, SAF/methylene blue method, and direct wet smear-prolonged MGG staining, respectively. The specificity was 100% for all the assessed methods. Microscopic examinations showed low sensitivity, mainly in asymptomatic pregnant patients. It is necessary to improve the detection of T. vaginalis using combined methods providing higher sensitivity, such as culture and PCR, mainly in asymptomatic pregnant patients, in order to prevent maternal and perinatal complications.
