Trichomonas species in a subhepatic abscess

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Parasitology
• Clinical Medicine

Background:

• Subhepatic abscesses are serious intra-abdominal infections.
• Oral protozoa like Trichomonas species are typically found in the oral cavity.

Observation:

• A rare case involving a patient with a perforated penetrating ventricular ulcer presented with a subhepatic abscess.
• Analysis of the abscess pus revealed the presence of Trichomonas tenax/Trichomonas hominis along with mixed oral bacterial flora.

Findings:

• The identification of Trichomonas tenax/Trichomonas hominis in a subhepatic abscess is highly unusual.
• The co-occurrence with bacterial flora suggests a polymicrobial infection, with a potential role for the flagellate.

Implications:

• This case highlights the need to consider unusual pathogens in complex infections.
• Further research may elucidate the pathogenic mechanisms of Trichomonas species in deep-seated infections.