Urine culture and serologic test for diagnosis of trichomoniasis in male patients with nongonococcal urethritis

Jeong, Eui Chul; Kim, Jae Hong; Ro, Young Suck; Lee, Chang Woo

Abstract

Trichomoniasis, a common and sometimes distressing condition in women, is caused by infection of the genitourinary tract by the pathogenic protozoan Trichomonris aginalis(T. vaginalis). Men may also be infected, although frequently without any symptoms, and most cases of trichomoniasis are sexually transmitted. The best evidence for an etiologic role for T. vaginalis is in nongonococcal urethritis(NGU). In epidemiologic studies, T,ginalis has been isolated from 1 to 68 percent in men with NGU. The nurnber of NGU is increasing rapidly than gonorrhea in deeloped nations, and in some developing countries, especially in Korea, In view of the difficulties in findng trichomonads by direct microsco by in men, urine culture and serodiagnosis plays an important role in the diagnostic work. Urine culture, indirect fluorescent antibody test(IFAT) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were used to elecect T.vaginalis in 221 patients with male NGU. These patients visited the VD Clinic of ChoongKu Public Health Center in Seoul from May to August, 1989 and from March, 1990 to December, 1991. The results obtained were as follows.: 1. T. vaginalis was grown from only one of the 221 samples on TPS-1 meida. 2. In 208 NGU patients, there were 10(4.8%) positive reactions on IgG antibody in IFAT. 3. In 208 NGU patient, there were 14(6.7%) positive reactions to IgG antibody in ELISA. 4. No statistical significant correlation was found between then sults of IFAT and ELISA in individual patients. In conclusion, 1. Male trichomoniasis in patients with NGU was detected at a, significantly low rate. Due to the small number of patients in the test, further epidemiologic stidies of trichomoniasis in male NGU patient are necessary. 2. Serologic studies (IFAT and ELISA) have detected sorre trichomoniasis in male patients with NGU. These tests seem to be helpful in the diagnosis of male t-ichomoniasis.