Preliminary studies on target antigens for the diagnosis of Trichomonas vaginalis infection

Trichomonas vaginalis, a parasitic protozoa residing in the human urogenital tract, causes one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases, trichomoniasis. Clinical diagnosis of T. vaginalis infection mainly involves a wet-mount microscopic examination, and a culture method, and both of which are either laborious or time-consuming. An immunodiagnostic strategy is under development, which is based on the fact that T. vaginalis releases various protein factors, notably proteinases, into the culture medium, some of which can also be detected in vaginal washes. These factors are closely related to the clinical presentation of trichomonad vaginitis, and thusly may serve as potential earmarks for diagnosis. We have attempted to identify the most appropriate target antigen(s) by screening and analyzing the profile of T. vaginalis antigens existing in patient's vaginal secretion, using the antiserum raised against the total secretory antigens from T. vaginalis cultures. Two T. vaginalis antigens with molecular weights near 110 KDa have been demonstrated to be useful antigens as the diagnostic markers.