Trichomonas vaginalis. II. Laboratory investigations in trichomoniasis.

Trichomonas vaginalis was first described by Donne (1836), who observed the organism in purulent secretions in both women and men, and stated that it was not present in normal vaginal secretions.T. vaginalis was successfully cultured in vitro by Lynch (1915), and there have since been a number of publications containing descriptions of the morphological, epidemiological, and pathological aspects of trichomonal infestation (Trussell, 1947; Whittington, 1957; Burch, Rees, and Reardon, 1959a; Frost and Honigberg, 1962; Niekerk, 1963; Honigberg and King, 1964; Nielsen, Ludvik, and Nielsen, 1966).There was no effective therapy for Trichomonas infection until the discovery of metronidazole (Flagylg) by Durel, Roiron, Siboulet, and Borel (1960).This great therapeutic advance led to the need for improved methods of demonstrating T. vaginalis in secretions.The simplest and most rapid method is direct microscopy of unstained wet preparations in which the actively moving organism is readily recognized.However, since the develop- ment of suitable media it has been found that culture is the most sensitive method (Whittington, 1957; Burch, Rees, and Reardon, 1959b; Petri, 1962; Lowe, 1965; Hess, 1969).Routine culture of T. vaginalis has been carried out in the Neisseria Department of the Statens Seruminstitut, Copenhagen, since 1962, and a method of testing the sensitivity to metronidazole has been developed concurrently. Material and methods TRANSPORT OF SAMPLESSecretion for investigation for T. vaginalis is taken with a charcoal impregnated swab from the urethra and/or vagina in women and from the urethra in men, preferably after prostate massage.If the investigation is to be carried out on a urine sample this is centrifuged and the deposit transferred to a swab.The swab is placed in a modified Stuart's medium and transported to the laboratory in the same way as samples to be investigated for gonococci