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Trichomonas vaginalis in neonates.
Herbert Hof1, K A Bode2, H Weisser3
1MVZ Labor Limbach u. Kollegen, Im Breitspiel 16, D-69126, Heidelberg, Germany. herbert.hof@labor-limbach.de.
Infection
|March 25, 2025
Summary
Trichomonas vaginalis, a common cause of sexually transmitted infections, can infect newborns during vaginal delivery. Increased use of sensitive PCR methods may lead to more frequent detection of this pathogen in neonates.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Neonatology
Background:
- Trichomonas vaginalis is a prevalent cause of non-viral sexually transmitted infections, primarily affecting women of childbearing age.
- Perinatal transmission can lead to neonatal infections, though documented cases are rare.
- Advancements in PCR technology enhance pathogen detection sensitivity, potentially increasing diagnoses in newborns.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report the clinical course of two neonates infected with T. vaginalis.
- To highlight the utility of multiplex PCR in diagnosing T. vaginalis in neonates without initial clinical suspicion.
Main Methods:
- Case report describing two neonates.
- Multiplex PCR used for pathogen detection.
Main Results:
- T. vaginalis was detected in two neonates via multiplex PCR.
- Infection was identified without prior clinical suspicion of sexually transmitted infections.
Conclusions:
- Trichomonas vaginalis can be transmitted from mother to neonate during vaginal delivery, causing colonization or disease.
- Wider application of multiplex PCR is expected to increase the frequency of detecting sexually transmitted infections in neonates.
