[Survival of Trichomonas vaginalis in the environmental media]

The survival of Trichomonas vaginalis outside of the body and from culture media was evaluated under environmental conditions using adsorbent (towels) and non adsorbent (plastic wells) surfaces. After 120 min of exposition under external conditions recovery of parasites from clinical samples showed viable protozoa onto adsorbent and non adsorbent surfaces (5.1% and 30.5%, respectively), as well as for parasites harvested from culture media and assayed onto both surfaces (77.2% and 81.8%, respectively). Parasites from human samples and culture could survive up to 24 h only onto non adsorbent materials (5.1% and 9.1%, respectively). Ability of T. vaginalis to remain viable under external conditions is discussed in relation to its non venereal transmission.