Background: Trichomonas vaginalis (
T.vaginalis) and
Neisseria gonorrhoeae
(
N.gonorrhoeae) are two most common non-viral sexually transmitted infections in
the world. No data are available regarding the epidemiology of genital infections in
women of Qom, central Iran.
Objective: Epidemiological investigation of sexually transmitted infections in
genital specimens of women referred to the referral gynecology hospital in Qom,
central Iran.
Materials and Methods: Genital swab specimens were collected from women
volunteers and used for identification of bacterial and protozoal infections by
conventional microbial diagnostics,
porA pseudo gene LightCycler
® real-time PCR
(for
N.gonorrhoeae) and ITS-PCR (for
T.vaginalis).
Results: Of 420 volunteers, 277 (65.9%) had genital signs/symptoms, including
38.3% malodorous discharge, 37.9% dyspareunia, and 54.8% abdominal pain.
Totally, 2 isolates of
Streptococcus agalactiae
were identified. Five specimens
(1.2%) in Thayer-Martin culture and 17 (4.1%) in real-time PCR were identified as
N.gonorrhoeae. Fifty-four specimens (12.9%) in wet mount, 64 (15.2%) in Dorset’s
culture, and 81 (19.3%) in ITS-PCR showed positive results for
T.vaginalis. Five
mixed infections of
T.vaginalis+
N.gonorrhoeae were found. The risk of
T.vaginalis
infection was increased in women with low-birth-weight (p=0.00; OR=43.29),
history of abortion (p=0.00; OR=91.84), and premature rupture of membranes
(PROM) (p=0.00; OR=21.75). The probability of finding nuclear leukocytes
(p=0.00; OR=43.34) in vaginal smear was higher in
T.vaginalis infection.
Conclusion: The significant prevalence of trichomoniasis and gonorrhea
emphasizes the need for accurate diagnosis and effective surveillance to prevent
serious reproductive complications in women.
