title: The use of specimens from various genitourinary sites in men, to detect Trichomonas vaginalis infection.
abstract: Variations in estimates of prevalence of trichomoniasis in men may reflect true differences in the burden of disease but are also affected by the performance of diagnostic methods and the type of specimen tested. In this study, men were evaluated at baseline and at follow-up, to evaluate syndromic management of urethritis and the effects of human immunodeficiency virus and trichomoniasis, in Lilongwe, Malawi. First-void urine specimens and urethral swabs were obtained at enrollment, for Trichomonas vaginalis culture; semen specimens were also obtained at follow-up. The sensitivities of testing methods using urine specimens and urethral swabs were equal; 67% of cases were identified by use of either specimen, and, in 47% of cases, both specimens tested positive. When semen specimens were included, all 3 specimens tested positive in only 19% of cases. Semen was the most sensitive single specimen, and, in 25.6% of cases, only semen specimens tested positive. Thus, prevalence of T. vaginalis infection in men is underestimated if only 1 specimen is tested.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina School of Public Health, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: S Cornelia
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Kaydos-Daniels
authors.forename: William C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Irving
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hoffman
authors.forename: Matthew A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Price
authors.forename: Francis
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Martinson
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chilongozi
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Namakwha
authors.forename: Syze
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gama
authors.forename: Seveliano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Phakati
authors.forename: Myron S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: Marcia M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Hobbs
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008295:Malawi / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012661:Semen / Q000382:microbiology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014245:Trichomonas Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000652:urine; D014246:Trichomonas vaginalis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014521:Urethra / Q000382:microbiology*; D014526:Urethritis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D008795:Metronidazole