Trichomonas Vaginalis

Question 1

Which Trichomonas spp. is the ONLY known pathogenic?

Answer 1

Trichomonas vaginalis

Question 2

TRUE OR FALSE: T. vaginalis has no known cyst stages

Answer 2

TRUE

Question 3

TRUE OR FALSE: T, vaginalis can be transferred from the pregnant woman to their child through the birthcanal

Answer 3

TRUE

Question 4

Asexual reproduction for T. vaginalis

Answer 4

Binary fission

Question 5

TRUE OR FALSE: Trichomoniasis is the most prevalent non-viral sexually transmitted infection

Answer 5

TRUE

Question 6

Enumerate the Trichomonas spp.

Answer 6

• Trichomonas vaginalis (urogenital tract)
• Trichomonas tenax (mouth)
• Trichomonas hominis (intestine)

Question 7

Determine the habitat for Trichomonas vaginalis

Answer 7

Lives in the urinary & reproductive system;
Female
specifically found in the vagina & urethra,

Male
seminal vesicles, prostate, & urethra in men

Question 8

Describe the morphological structures for T. vaginalis

Answer 8

• The undulating membrane is supported at the base by a rod-like structure known as COSTA
• Pathogenic and cause vaginitis
• Trophozoites thrive in a slightly alkaline or slightly acidic

Question 9

Determine the prevalence of T. vaginalis infection among males and females (in percentage)

Answer 9

20-40% in women
15% in men

Question 10

MOT for Trichomonas vaginalis

Answer 10

• Sexual Intercourse
• Soiled clothing, linens;
• sharing of wash cloth, clothing, etc

Question 11

TRUE OR FALSE: T. vaginalis can live in moist clothing for one day

Answer 11

TRUE

Question 12

Describe the Female (Trichomoniasis, Ping-pong disease)

Answer 12

• Non-specific vaginitis
• Itchiness, burning sensation
• Vulvovaginitis
• Greenish-yellow leukorrheic discharge
• Inflammation of cervix (“strawberry cervix”)

Question 13

TRUE OR FALSE: S/S for Trichomonas infection includes chaffing, itching, frothing/clear/creamy discharge that is profuse from vagina (leukorrhea)

Answer 13

TRUE

Question 14

Treatment of choice for Trichomoniasis

Answer 14

• Metronidazole 3 times a day for 4-5 days
• Acidic douche (10% vinegar)

Question 15

TRUE OR FALSE: Reinfection can happen almost immediately in T. vaginalis infection

Answer 15

TRUE

Question 16

Enumerate the Laboratory Dx for Trichomoniasis

Answer 16

 Microscopy (can be stained with Giemsa or Wright)
* Female: Urine, Vaginal Discharge, Vaginal Scrapping
* Male: Urine, Prostatic Fluid, Seminal Fluid
 Demonstration of T. vaginalis in wet mounts of the sedimented urine, vaginal secretions or vagina scrapings by bright field, dark-field or phase contrast microscopy
 Fixed smears
 Culture

Question 17

Enumerate the culture methods medium used to employ in T. vaginalis

Answer 17

o Trussell & Johnson’s medium
o Diamond’s Modified Culture Medium
o Feinberg-Whittington Culture Medium
o Trypticase

Question 18

Describe the motility of T. vaginalis trophozoite

Answer 18

In wet preparation, the trophozoite exhibit rapid jerky/jerky tumbling

Question 19

Ovoid, round, pear shaped (Resembles T. tenax but larger)

Answer 19

Trophozoite

Question 20

How many flagella does T. vaginalis possess?

Answer 20

4 free anterior flagella & a 5th
flagellum in its undulating membrane
TOTAL: 5 flagella

Question 21

Describe the epidemiology of Trichomonas vaginalis

Answer 21

• More common in women; hard to find in men because mostly are asymptomatic
• It is cosmopolitan in distribution, however prevalence is not uniform because of sanitary and hygiene habits (depends on surroundings)