Trichomonas vaginalis is a single-celled organism that causes trichomoniasis, a common sexually transmitted and respiratory disease. It can be diagnosed through overnight culture or Pap smear, and is usually treated successfully with oral antibiotics. Condom use during sexual activity can significantly reduce the risk of contracting trichomoniasis.
Trichomonas vaginalis, or T. vaginalis, is a single-celled organism that causes trichomoniasis, a sexually transmitted and respiratory disease that infects both men and women. Trichomoniasis is among the most common infections in developed countries, and more than 180 million new cases are reported worldwide each year. Trichomoniasis is usually treated successfully with oral antibiotics.
T. vaginalis is a single large, oval-shaped cell measuring approximately 9×7 micrometres (µm). To understand the size of one of these cells, a micrometer is 1,000 times smaller than a millimeter and red blood cells are usually 8 µm in diameter. Each cell of T. vaginalis contains five whip-shaped structures called flagella and one barbel-shaped structure called an axostyle. The flagella are used to help push the organism through the fluid, while the axostyle is often used as a way to attach itself to the surface of other cells and damage tissue in the event of infection.
Trichomonas vaginalis most commonly infects the vagina, but it can also infect the urinary tract and fallopian tubes, as well as structures in the airways, causing pneumonia. Infection occurs when the pH balance of the vagina shifts from acidic to slightly basic and allows Trichomonas vaginalis cells to grow. These cells can survive up to 24 hours in urine, semen or water and can survive on a number of materials for a few hours, meaning a person can become infected by coming into contact with infected material.
Vaginal infection can cause abnormal discharge and itching. It can also cause what is known as a “strawberry cervix” or vagina, which is a result of tissue damage inflicted by Trichomonas vaginalis. If a patient reports a foamy discharge or greenish-yellow discomfort, the doctor will order a test for T. vaginalis. Trichomonas can be diagnosed by overnight culture or Pap smear.
In a Pap smear, infection is indicated when the stained tissue reveals an abundance of small T. vaginalis cells. Additionally, infected host cells will show a transparent halo around their nucleus, the region of the cell that contains the DNA. Corkscrew motility of single cells, corresponding to Trichomonas locomotion, may also be an indicator of infection. The most commonly used method of diagnosis is overnight culture, a test for the growth of Trichomonas vaginalis, because it is much more sensitive for detecting the infection.
Trichomonas can be carried by males, who usually show no symptoms, meaning an infected individual may not be aware of the infection. Therefore, condom use during sexual activity can significantly reduce the risk of contracting trichomoniasis from a carrier. Once trichomoniasis has been diagnosed, it is important to inform past sexual partners and instruct them to get tested. Additionally, it is important that any current partner seek treatment because they may be asymptomatic carriers capable of re-infecting new partners. If left untreated, Trichomonas vaginalis increases the risk of other STIs, including HIV.
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