agar and Trichomonas-Vaginitis

Broth culture of Trichomonas vaginalis is considered the "gold standard" for the diagnosis of trichomoniasis. Two studies were carried out to evaluate modified Columbia agar (MCA) for the isolation of T. vaginalis from clinical samples. Study I compared isolation on MCA to that on liquid medium with 889 vaginal samples. Out of 63 samples positive for T. vaginalis (7.1% of total), MCA identified 62 (98.4%) and broth identified 58 (92.1%). In study II, trichomoniasis was diagnosed within the scope of a screening program for a total of 39,585 men and women by culture on MCA and direct microscopy. Culture on MCA detected 199 (98.5%) and Gram staining detected 163 (80.7%) of 202 positive specimens. Wet-mount preparations used for symptomatic patients identified 103 (92.8%) of 111 cases. Culture of T. vaginalis from clinical samples on MCA is highly sensitive and reliable, as well as timesaving, and therefore suitable for screening of symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals.

Topics: Agar; Animals; Clinical Laboratory Techniques; Culture Media; Female; Gentian Violet; Humans; Laboratories; Male; Mass Screening; Phenazines; Sensitivity and Specificity; Specimen Handling; Trichomonas vaginalis; Trichomonas Vaginitis; Urethra; Vagina

The ability of Amies gel agar transport medium to maintain the viability of Trichomonas vaginalis was determined by comparing transported vaginal specimens to specimens immediately inoculated into culture medium. The prevalence of trichomonosis in the study population was 26% (68 of 260 women). The immediate inoculation method detected infections in 64 of 68 infected women (sensitivity of 94.1%). The transport method detected 62 of 68 infections (sensitivity of 91.2%). There was no significant difference between the two methods.

Topics: Agar; Animals; Culture Media; Evaluation Studies as Topic; Female; Humans; Parasitology; Predictive Value of Tests; Sensitivity and Specificity; Trichomonas vaginalis; Trichomonas Vaginitis

In subjects with trichomoniasis the number of Trichomonas vaginalis in vaginal discharges or secretions is unknown. The presence of T. vaginalis was evaluated in 177 consecutive female patients attending an inner city sexually transmitted disease clinic by patient history, wet mount, and broth culture. T. vaginalis was quantitated by a novel agar culture technique. Of the 177 women, 86 (49%) were positive for T. vaginalis by either wet mount or culture. Clinical symptoms were not reliable for making an accurate diagnosis of trichomoniasis. Culture on modified Diamond's medium was more sensitive (98%) than the wet mount method (38%) in detecting T. vaginalis. Of the 86 patients who were positive for trichomoniasis, quantitation was obtained for 81 patients, with 70% yielding greater than 10(4) colony-forming units (cfu)/ml. The number of T. vaginalis ranged from 40 to greater than 10(6) cfu/ml. The wet mount method was very insensitive for detecting T. vaginalis and was positive only in patients yielding greater than 10(5) cfu/ml.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Agar; Culture Media; Female; Humans; Middle Aged; Trichomonas vaginalis; Trichomonas Vaginitis; Vagina

Topics: Agar; Animals; Culture Media; Female; Humans; In Vitro Techniques; Mice; Phenotype; Trichomonas vaginalis; Trichomonas Vaginitis