Diagnosis of Trichomonas vaginalis in suspicious women referred to health centres in Tabriz, north of Iran by microscopy and PCR methods

Abstract Purpose Trichomoniasis is a parasitic disease of human reproductive-urinary system and the most important non-viral sexually transmitted infection worldwide. Due toits importance to the human reproductive health, HIV transmission and limited information on the prevalence of Trichomonas vaginalis, current study was investigated to evaluate of T. vaginalis among suspicious women who referred to health centers of Tabriz, northwest of Iran. Methods Study was conducted on 448 suspicious women who attended to the gynecological ward of 29 Bahman hospital in Tabriz,northwest of Iran, during September 2016 to September 2017. Demographic datawas collected based on study protocol. Vaginal discharges were obtained by sterile swabs and prevalence of T. vaginalis was determined wet-mount staining examinations and PCR method. Results Of the 448 cases studied, 48 (10.7%) were positive by wet-mount staining examinations, 4 (0.89%) by PCR method respectively. The mean age of infected individual was 41.7 ± 9.4 years. No statistical correlation was observed between inflammation, method of contraception and parasitological results (p = 0.8). Conclusion The results of presentstudy showed a relatively low prevalence of T. vaginalis infection in the study population. Clinical diagnosis besides variety of end-stage techniques to obtain an accurate data are needed.