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.
Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA. karen-wendel@ouhsc.edu
Karen A
KA
Wendel
Anne M
AM
Rompalo
Emily J
EJ
Erbelding
T-H
TH
Chang
John F
JF
Alderete
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