A comparison of four media for the cultivation of Trichomonas vaginalis.

Trichomoniasis, infection of the urogenital tract by Trichomonas vaginalis, is probably the most prevalent of the primarily sexually transmitted diseases. In Zimbabwe, serological evidence suggests that about one third of the population is or has been infected, while in neighbouring South Africa T vaginalis was demonstrated in almost one half of patients attending a gynaecology clinic. Diagnosis of infection is usually made by microscope demonstration of the parasite in vaginal exudate, and many studies have shown that culture of organisms increases the reliability of diagnosis. Serological diagnostic techniques have not been widely used, but were found to be at least as good as culture techniques though again organisms must be maintained in culture as a source of antigen.