Double-stranded RNA viral infection of Trichomonas vaginalis infecting patients attending a sexually transmitted diseases clinic.
Trichomonas vaginalis (TV) can be infected with double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) viruses that may have important implications for trichomonal virulence and disease pathogenesis. A cross-sectional study was conducted in a sexually transmitted diseases clinic to determine the prevalence and clinical significance of dsRNA viral infection of TV infecting men and women. Overall, dsRNA virus was present in 21 (75%) of 28 TV isolates (95% confidence interval [CI], 55%-89%). dsRNA viral infection of TV was not associated with the presence of discharge, dysuria, genital pruritus, or genital irritation or odor. However, patients with virus-positive isolates were significantly older than patients with virus-negative isolates (median age, 38 vs. 23 years; P=.003), and virus-positive isolates were more prevalent among women (19 [86%] of 22 isolates; 95% CI, 65%-97%) than among men (2 [33%] of 6 isolates; P=.02). The age and sex specificity of virus-positive isolates may aid in understanding the differences in chronicity and clinical presentation of TV in men and women.
Wendel
Karen A
KA
Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA. karen-wendel@ouhsc.edu
Rompalo
Anne M
AM
Erbelding
Emily J
EJ
Chang
T-H
TH
Alderete
John F
JF
D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D000818:Animals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012328:RNA Viruses / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D014245:Trichomonas Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000503:physiopathology; D014246:Trichomonas vaginalis / Q000472:pathogenicity* / Q000821:virology*; D014774:Virulence
D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded