Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction Detection of Trichomonas vaginalis from vaginal swabs: Validation of a Diagnostic Method and Preliminary Epidemiological Application

Background Trichomonas vaginalis is the most common nonviral sexually trasmitted diseases (STDs) agent. For females, the diagnostic gold standard is the culture of vaginal swab, which is labour-exacting.The direct microscopic examination of vaginal secretions is the most used approach, but its sensi...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Carlo Mengoli, Maria Angela Biasolo, Antonietta Cavallaro, Giorgio Palù, Annalisa Trevisan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: PAGEPress Publications 2009-06-01
Series:Microbiologia Medica
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.pagepressjournals.org/index.php/mm/article/view/2534
_version_ 1819037282857910272
author Carlo Mengoli
Maria Angela Biasolo
Antonietta Cavallaro
Giorgio Palù
Annalisa Trevisan
author_facet Carlo Mengoli
Maria Angela Biasolo
Antonietta Cavallaro
Giorgio Palù
Annalisa Trevisan
author_sort Carlo Mengoli
collection DOAJ
description Background Trichomonas vaginalis is the most common nonviral sexually trasmitted diseases (STDs) agent. For females, the diagnostic gold standard is the culture of vaginal swab, which is labour-exacting.The direct microscopic examination of vaginal secretions is the most used approach, but its sensitivity depends on the skill of the observer. Objectives We evaluated an original real-time TaqMan-based Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) technique.The scope of the study was to confirm the effectiveness of the molecular approach in a clinical context and to explore its relevance to an epidemiological investigation. Study Design a ß-tubulin gene was chosen as target sequence.The assay was designed to exploit the quantitative potential of the TaqMan procedure.The population sample was 583 adult females presenting at the Service from January 2005 to December 2005.Three vaginal swabs were collected from each patient, one for wet mount microscopy, one for broth culture, and one for the molecular assay. Results The prevalence was 3.3% (culture), 3.1% (microscopy), 3.8% (PCR).An excess risk was detected in the immigrant population (risk ratio by PCR = 28). Conclusions The molecular approach was the most accurate way to detect the protozoon.The real-time PCR is convenient in a busy laboratory, provided the necessary equipment is available, and it is suitable for epidemiological investigation.
first_indexed 2024-12-21T08:18:57Z
format Article
id doaj.art-6775d0726b5c438a8f9d8e8eae460da4
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2280-6423
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-21T08:18:57Z
publishDate 2009-06-01
publisher PAGEPress Publications
record_format Article
series Microbiologia Medica
spelling doaj.art-6775d0726b5c438a8f9d8e8eae460da42022-12-21T19:10:29ZengPAGEPress PublicationsMicrobiologia Medica2280-64232009-06-0124210.4081/mm.2009.25341787Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction Detection of Trichomonas vaginalis from vaginal swabs: Validation of a Diagnostic Method and Preliminary Epidemiological ApplicationCarlo MengoliMaria Angela BiasoloAntonietta CavallaroGiorgio PalùAnnalisa TrevisanBackground Trichomonas vaginalis is the most common nonviral sexually trasmitted diseases (STDs) agent. For females, the diagnostic gold standard is the culture of vaginal swab, which is labour-exacting.The direct microscopic examination of vaginal secretions is the most used approach, but its sensitivity depends on the skill of the observer. Objectives We evaluated an original real-time TaqMan-based Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) technique.The scope of the study was to confirm the effectiveness of the molecular approach in a clinical context and to explore its relevance to an epidemiological investigation. Study Design a ß-tubulin gene was chosen as target sequence.The assay was designed to exploit the quantitative potential of the TaqMan procedure.The population sample was 583 adult females presenting at the Service from January 2005 to December 2005.Three vaginal swabs were collected from each patient, one for wet mount microscopy, one for broth culture, and one for the molecular assay. Results The prevalence was 3.3% (culture), 3.1% (microscopy), 3.8% (PCR).An excess risk was detected in the immigrant population (risk ratio by PCR = 28). Conclusions The molecular approach was the most accurate way to detect the protozoon.The real-time PCR is convenient in a busy laboratory, provided the necessary equipment is available, and it is suitable for epidemiological investigation.http://www.pagepressjournals.org/index.php/mm/article/view/2534Trichomonas vaginalis, real-time PCR, vaginal swab
spellingShingle Carlo Mengoli
Maria Angela Biasolo
Antonietta Cavallaro
Giorgio Palù
Annalisa Trevisan
Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction Detection of Trichomonas vaginalis from vaginal swabs: Validation of a Diagnostic Method and Preliminary Epidemiological Application
Microbiologia Medica
Trichomonas vaginalis, real-time PCR, vaginal swab
title Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction Detection of Trichomonas vaginalis from vaginal swabs: Validation of a Diagnostic Method and Preliminary Epidemiological Application
title_full Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction Detection of Trichomonas vaginalis from vaginal swabs: Validation of a Diagnostic Method and Preliminary Epidemiological Application
title_fullStr Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction Detection of Trichomonas vaginalis from vaginal swabs: Validation of a Diagnostic Method and Preliminary Epidemiological Application
title_full_unstemmed Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction Detection of Trichomonas vaginalis from vaginal swabs: Validation of a Diagnostic Method and Preliminary Epidemiological Application
title_short Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction Detection of Trichomonas vaginalis from vaginal swabs: Validation of a Diagnostic Method and Preliminary Epidemiological Application
title_sort real time polymerase chain reaction detection of trichomonas vaginalis from vaginal swabs validation of a diagnostic method and preliminary epidemiological application
topic Trichomonas vaginalis, real-time PCR, vaginal swab
url http://www.pagepressjournals.org/index.php/mm/article/view/2534
work_keys_str_mv AT carlomengoli realtimepolymerasechainreactiondetectionoftrichomonasvaginalisfromvaginalswabsvalidationofadiagnosticmethodandpreliminaryepidemiologicalapplication
AT mariaangelabiasolo realtimepolymerasechainreactiondetectionoftrichomonasvaginalisfromvaginalswabsvalidationofadiagnosticmethodandpreliminaryepidemiologicalapplication
AT antoniettacavallaro realtimepolymerasechainreactiondetectionoftrichomonasvaginalisfromvaginalswabsvalidationofadiagnosticmethodandpreliminaryepidemiologicalapplication
AT giorgiopalu realtimepolymerasechainreactiondetectionoftrichomonasvaginalisfromvaginalswabsvalidationofadiagnosticmethodandpreliminaryepidemiologicalapplication
AT annalisatrevisan realtimepolymerasechainreactiondetectionoftrichomonasvaginalisfromvaginalswabsvalidationofadiagnosticmethodandpreliminaryepidemiologicalapplication