Trichomonas vaginalis
MICROBIOLOGY
- Trichomonas vaginalis (TV): 5-15 µm, pear-shaped, motile, flagellated protozoan parasite.
- Exists in the trophozoite stage only [Fig. 1; life cycle].
- Facultative anaerobe divides by binary fission.
- Optimal growth in moist milieu at a pH of 4.9-7.5 and a temperature of 35oC-37oC.
- Trichomonads gather in clusters on the stratified urogenital epithelium, covering only a small surface area.
- Parasites invade the superficial epithelium causing damage directly beneath the clustered trichomonads.
- The nonspecific inflammatory response was noted in the lamina propria with plasma cells, lymphocytes, and neutrophils present.
- Superficial ulceration of the epithelium can occur.
- Exists in the trophozoite stage only [Fig. 1; life cycle].
- Transmission issues:
- Can survive up to 45 minutes on clothing, washcloths, and in bathwater.
- The presence of infection enhances the acquisition of HIV infection.
- Antecedent bacterial vaginosis (BV), is a risk factor for T. vaginalis acquisition.
There's more to see -- the rest of this topic is available only to subscribers.
Last updated: November 14, 2021
Citation
Tuddenham, Susan, and Noreen A Hynes. "Trichomonas Vaginalis." Johns Hopkins ABX Guide, The Johns Hopkins University, 2021. Pediatrics Central, peds.unboundmedicine.com/pedscentral/view/Johns_Hopkins_ABX_Guide/540562/all/Trichomonas_vaginalis.
Tuddenham S, Hynes NA. Trichomonas vaginalis. Johns Hopkins ABX Guide. The Johns Hopkins University; 2021. https://peds.unboundmedicine.com/pedscentral/view/Johns_Hopkins_ABX_Guide/540562/all/Trichomonas_vaginalis. Accessed October 15, 2024.
Tuddenham, S., & Hynes, N. A. (2021). Trichomonas vaginalis. In Johns Hopkins ABX Guide. The Johns Hopkins University. https://peds.unboundmedicine.com/pedscentral/view/Johns_Hopkins_ABX_Guide/540562/all/Trichomonas_vaginalis
Tuddenham S, Hynes NA. Trichomonas Vaginalis [Internet]. In: Johns Hopkins ABX Guide. The Johns Hopkins University; 2021. [cited 2024 October 15]. Available from: https://peds.unboundmedicine.com/pedscentral/view/Johns_Hopkins_ABX_Guide/540562/all/Trichomonas_vaginalis.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - ELEC
T1 - Trichomonas vaginalis
ID - 540562
A1 - Tuddenham,Susan,M.D.
AU - Hynes,Noreen,M.D., M.P.H., D.T.M.&H.
Y1 - 2021/11/14/
BT - Johns Hopkins ABX Guide
UR - https://peds.unboundmedicine.com/pedscentral/view/Johns_Hopkins_ABX_Guide/540562/all/Trichomonas_vaginalis
PB - The Johns Hopkins University
DB - Pediatrics Central
DP - Unbound Medicine
ER -