[Investigation of Trichomonas vaginalis through different methodologies during pregnancy]

The aim of this study was to conduct a survey regarding the prevalence of trichomoniasis in pregnant patients and to evaluate the utility of different diagnostic methods. Two hundred and twenty three vaginal swab specimens from pregnant women were prospectively examined. Trichomonas vaginalis was investigated by various microscopic examinations, solid culture medium and liquid culture medium. The sensitivity and specificity of microscopy were evaluated by considering both culture media as the "gold standards". The prevalence of T. vaginalis obtained by both culture media (liquid plus solid media) was 4.5% (10/223). The prevalence of T. vaginalis obtained by direct smear, May-Grunwald Giemsa staining, sodium acetate-acetic acid-formalin (SAF)/Methylene blue staining-fixing technique, solid medium and liquid medium was 1.3%, 1.8%, 1.8% and 4.5%, respectively. The sensitivity of the direct smear was 30 %, but for the May-Grunwald Giemsa staining and the SAF/Methylene blue staining-fixing technique was 40%. Considering the three microscopic examinations altogether, the sensitivity rose to 50% and the specificity was 100% for all of them. The solid medium detected only 50% of the positive cases; the liquid medium detected 100%. Due to the low sensitivity obtained with microscopy in asymptomatic pregnant patients, we recommend the use of the liquid medium during pregnancy, in order to provide an early treatment.