title: Association between trichomoniasis and bacterial vaginosis: examination of 600 cervicovaginal smears.
abstract: To determine whether there is a relationship between trichomoniasis and bacterial vaginosis (BV), cervicovaginal smears obtained from 600 women were stained with the Papanicolaou technique and examined cytologically. Thirty-six (6%) of 600 women were diagnosed as having Trichomonas vaginalis [TV(+)]. Sixteen (44.4%) of 36 TV(+) cases were observed as having BV [BV(+)]. Thirty-one of 564 TV(-) vaginal smears were also positive for BV (5.5%). There was a statistically significant correlation between trichomoniasis and bacterial vaginosis (p < 0.05). It is possible that TV might create an anaerobic environment, thereby changing the vaginal flora. This flora becomes a more suitable milieu for growing of anaerobic microorganisms. It can be postulated that TV might be the most important protozoan that contributes to the overgrowth of BV-related microorganisms.
authors.affiliation: Hacettepe University, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, Ankara, Turkey. sayeste@hacettepe.edu.tr
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Demirezen
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Korkmaz
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Beksaç
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D065006:Papanicolaou Test; D014245:Trichomonas Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014421:Turkey; D014626:Vaginal Smears; D016585:Vaginosis, Bacterial / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology