Parasites, Hosts and Diseases

The Korea Society for Parasitology and Tropical Medicine (대한기생충학·열대의학회)
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Prevalence of Trichomonas vaginalis in Women Visiting 2 Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinics in Daegu, South Korea

  • Goo, Youn-Kyoung (Department of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine) ;
  • Shin, Won-Sik (Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shinsegae Women's Hospital) ;
  • Yang, Hye-Won (Department of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine) ;
  • Joo, So-Young (Department of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine) ;
  • Song, Su-Min (Department of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine) ;
  • Ryu, Jae-Sook (Department of Environmental Biology & Medical Parasitology, Hanyang University College of Medicine) ;
  • Lee, Won-Myung (Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Rosemary Hospital) ;
  • Kong, Hyun-Hee (Department of Parasitology, Dong-A University College of Medicine) ;
  • Lee, Won-Ki (Center of Biostatistics, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine) ;
  • Lee, Sang-Eun (Division of Malaria and Parasitic Diseases, Korea National Institute of Health, Korea Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention) ;
  • Lee, Won-Ja (Division of Malaria and Parasitic Diseases, Korea National Institute of Health, Korea Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention) ;
  • Chung, Dong-Il (Department of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine) ;
  • Hong, Yeonchul (Department of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine)
  • Received : 2015.10.21
  • Accepted : 2015.12.26
  • Published : 2016.02.29
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Abstract

This study explored epidemiological trends in trichomoniasis in Daegu, South Korea. Wet mount microscopy, PCR, and multiplex PCR were used to test for Trichomonas vaginalis in vaginal swab samples obtained from 621 women visiting 2 clinics in Daegu. Of the 621 women tested, microscopy detected T. vaginalis in 4 (0.6%) patients, PCR detected T. vaginalis in 19 (3.0%) patients, and multiplex PCR detected T. vaginalis in 12 (1.9%) patients. Testing via PCR demonstrated high sensitivity and high negative predictive value for T. vaginalis. Among the 19 women who tested positive for T. vaginalis according to PCR, 94.7% (18/19) reported vaginal signs and symptoms. Notably, more than 50% of T. vaginalis infections occurred in females younger than 30 years old, and 58% were unmarried. Multiplex PCR, which simultaneously detects pathogens from various sexually transmitted infections, revealed that 91.7% (11/12) of patients were infected with 2 or more pathogens. Mycoplasma hominis was the most prevalent co-infection pathogen with T. vaginalis, followed by Ureaplasma urealyticum and Chlamydia trachomatis. Our results indicate that PCR and multiplex PCR are the most sensitive tools for T. vaginalis diagnosis, rather than microscopy which has been routinely used to detect T. vaginalis infections in South Korea. Therefore, clinicians should take note of the high prevalence of T. vaginalis infections among adolescent and young women in order to prevent persistent infection and transmission of this disease.

Keywords

References

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