Trichomonas vaginalis is the aethiologic agent of trichomoniasis, the sexually transmitted disease (STD) non-viral most common in the world. This flagellate protozoan successfully reaches the parasitism in a hostile environment through some mechanisms which establish its pathogenicity and also through its capacity to evade the host immune response. Trichomoniasis presents a large variety of clinical manifestations, from a totally asymptomatic infection to severe vaginitis. It has been associated to the increase in transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), pelvic inflammatory disease, cervical cancer, infertility, and premature delivery and low birth weight of children born from infected mothers. The laboratorial inquiry is essential in diagnosis of this STD, leads to the appropriate treatment and facilitates the control of the spread of T. vaginalis infection. The annual world prevalence of trichomoniasis is 180 million cases and in Europe it is responsible for 41% of vaginitis cases. The treatment of trichomoniasis includes the same profilatic means devoted to others STDs, such as secure sex practice and preservative use. Metronidazole is the choose for the treatment of trichomoniasis, however, due to the fail in the single dose treatment and the imminent appearance of resistant strains, other therapeutic alternatives are been investigated.
Trichomonas vaginalis; Vaginitis; Vaginal discharge; STD; Diagnosis