title: Optimization of Trichomonas vaginalis Diagnosis during Pregnancy at a University Hospital, Argentina.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate different methods for Trichomonas vaginalis diagnosis during pregnancy in order to prevent maternal and perinatal complications. A total of 386 vaginal exudates from pregnant women were analyzed. T. vaginalis was investigated by 3 types of microscopic examinations direct wet mount with physiologic saline solution, prolonged May-Grunwald Giemsa (MGG) staining, and wet mount with sodium-acetate-formalin (SAF)/methylene blue method. PCR for 18S rRNA gene as well as culture in liquid medium were performed. The sensitivity and specificity of the microscopic examinations were evaluated considering the culture media positivity or the PCR techniques as gold standard. The frequency of T. vaginalis infection was 6.2% by culture and/or PCR, 5.2% by PCR, 4.7% by culture, 3.1% by SAF/methylene blue method and 2.8% by direct wet smear and prolonged MGG staining. The sensitivities were 83.3%, 75.0%, 50.0%, and 45.8% for PCR, culture, SAF/methylene blue method, and direct wet smear-prolonged MGG staining, respectively. The specificity was 100% for all the assessed methods. Microscopic examinations showed low sensitivity, mainly in asymptomatic pregnant patients. It is necessary to improve the detection of T. vaginalis using combined methods providing higher sensitivity, such as culture and PCR, mainly in asymptomatic pregnant patients, in order to prevent maternal and perinatal complications.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Bacteriology Laboratory, Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Hospital de Clínicas, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.|Clinical Immmunology and Virology Laboratory, Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Hospital de Clínicas, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Testardini
authors.affiliation: Clinical Immmunology and Virology Laboratory, Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Hospital de Clínicas, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: María Lucía Gallo
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Vaulet
authors.affiliation: Clinical Immmunology and Virology Laboratory, Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Hospital de Clínicas, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Andrea Carolina
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Entrocassi
authors.affiliation: Clinical Parasitology Laboratory, Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Hospital de Clínicas, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Menghi
authors.affiliation: Lower Genital Tract, Obstetrics Division, Department of Tocogynecology, Hospital de Clinicas, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Martha Cora
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Eliseht
authors.affiliation: Clinical Parasitology Laboratory, Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Hospital de Clínicas, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gatta
authors.affiliation: Clinical Bacteriology Laboratory, Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Hospital de Clínicas, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Mirta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Losada
authors.affiliation: Clinical Bacteriology Laboratory, Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Hospital de Clínicas, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: María Sol
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Touzón
authors.affiliation: Clinical Immmunology and Virology Laboratory, Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Hospital de Clínicas, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Corominas
authors.affiliation: Clinical Bacteriology Laboratory, Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Hospital de Clínicas, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vay
authors.affiliation: Lower Genital Tract, Obstetrics Division, Department of Tocogynecology, Hospital de Clinicas, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Silvio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tatti
authors.affiliation: Clinical Bacteriology Laboratory, Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Hospital de Clínicas, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Famiglietti
authors.affiliation: Clinical Immmunology and Virology Laboratory, Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Hospital de Clínicas, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Marcelo Rodriguez
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Fermepin
authors.affiliation: Clinical Bacteriology Laboratory, Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Hospital de Clínicas, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Beatriz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Perazzi
mesh_terms: D001118:Argentina; D004801:Eosine Yellowish-(YS); D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008751:Methylene Blue; D008853:Microscopy / Q000379:methods; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D011247:Pregnancy; D015597:Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / Q000517:prevention & control; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods*; D014247:Trichomonas Vaginitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000469:parasitology; D014246:Trichomonas vaginalis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014626:Vaginal Smears / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: C043260:May-Grunwald Giemsa; D008751:Methylene Blue; D004801:Eosine Yellowish-(YS)
keywords: Argentina; Trichomonas vaginalis; diagnosis; pregnancy