Korean J Parasitol.  2016 Feb;54(1):75-80. 10.3347/kjp.2016.54.1.75.

Prevalence of Trichomonas vaginalis in Women Visiting 2 Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinics in Daegu, South Korea

• Goo YK
• Shin WS
• Yang HW
• Joo SY
• Song SM
• Ryu JS
• Lee WM
• Kong HH
• Lee WK
• Lee SE
• Lee WJ
• Chung DI
• Hong Y

• KMID: 2374021
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3347/kjp.2016.54.1.75

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.

Keyword

Trichomonas vaginalis; trichomoniasis; PCR; multiplex PCR; multiple infection; sexually transmitted infection

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Adult
Ambulatory Care Facilities/statistics & numerical data
Female
Humans
Microscopy/standards
Middle Aged
Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction/standards
Polymerase Chain Reaction/standards
Predictive Value of Tests
Prevalence
Republic of Korea/epidemiology
Sensitivity and Specificity
Trichomonas Infections/*epidemiology/prevention & control
Trichomonas vaginalis/physiology
Vaginal Smears/standards
Young Adult