Molecular Diagnosis of Trichomonas vaginalis in Women and Men: A Systematic Review

Trichomonas vaginalis (T. vaginalis) is a human protozoan parasite and the leading cause of nonviral sexually transmitted infections worldwide. Diagnosis of T. vaginalis is typically performed using vaginal discharge or urine samples, which are examined via wet prep, culture methods, or molecular tests. Compared to traditional culture-based methods, molecular diagnostic techniques have shown higher sensitivity, as they allow more precise identification of T. vaginalis-infected individuals. The present review evaluated the molecular diagnosis of T. vaginalis in male and female populations.

A search was performed across international databases, including Google Scholar, Scopus, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, Wiley, ClinicalKey, IEEE, EMBASE, Springer, Cambridge, Oxford Journal, Sage, Emerald, and Cochrane. The search included English-language publications available from inception to August 2025.

In total, 119 studies were eligible for this systematic review. The highest number of studies originated from the United States (n = 33), Iran (n = 16), and South Korea (n = 8). PCR was the most frequently employed molecular technique, reported in 58 studies, followed by real-time PCR (n = 12). 18 studies reported 100% sensitivity and 20 studies reported 100% specificity. Of the included studies, 91 focused only on women, 7 on men, 19 on both genders, and 2 did not specify the participants' gender. Study design was poorly reported in the majority of studies (n = 83), but among those with clear designs, cross-sectional studies predominated (n = 20). Vaginal swabs were the most frequently used sample type.

The sensitivity and specificity of molecular methods for diagnosing T. vaginalis vary. However, given their overall superior performance, these techniques should be prioritized for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment of T. vaginalis infections.