Molecular characterization of Egyptian Trichomonas vaginalis clinical isolates by HSP70 restriction fragment length polymorphism

Molecular typing of 20 Egyptian Trichomonas vaginalis clinical isolates was performed using the Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) analysis employing a probe from the heat-inducible cytoplasmic HSP70 gene family hybridized with EcoR l-digested genomic DNA. In each of the isolates tested 5 to 6 distinct DNA fragments ranging from 2.7 Kb to 7.5 Kb in size were detected. Analysis of 13 isolates from symptomatic and 7 isolates from asymptomatic women revealed 6 distinct RFLP pattern subtypes of T. vaginalis. Eleven isolates (55%) showed the same RFLP pattern, teen of them (90.9%) were from symptomatic patients. T. vaginalis virus (TVV) was present in 7 isolates (35%). Only one isolate was considered resistant to Metronidazole. There were no relations between TVV infection or Metronidazole susceptibility and RFLP subtypes.

Biological variability of Trichomonas vaginalis clinical isolates from symptomatic and asymptomatic patients

The vaginal specimens of sixty women were cultured using modified thioglycolate medium. Thirteen samples were positive for Trichomonas vaginalis 21.7%. Pathogenicity of these clinical isolates was investigated by intra-peritoneal injection to mice. Additionally, their susceptibility to Metronidazole was evaluated. All the clinical isolates produced infection in mice but marked variations in pathogenicity and susceptibility were observed. Four out of 13 isolates (30.8%) produced mortality in mice indicating higher pathogenicity of the 4 isolates. As to Metronidazole susceptibility, only one isolate was considered resistant and other 12 ones showed different degrees of susceptibility.