(IUSTI-Europe Congress 2023)
Msc. Ina Hoxha, Mag. Dr. Iwona Lesiak-Markowicz, Angelika Stary, Mag. Dr. Ursula Fürnkranz
Trichomonas vaginalis causes trichomoniasis, the most recurrent sexually transmitted infection (STI) worldwide. Genital mycoplasmas are known as sexually transmitted agents, frequently isolated from the female genital tract. Symbiosis between Mycoplasma species and T. vaginalis have been described and linked to numerous reproductive morbidities.
Methods
In the Outpatients Centre for Infectious Venero-dermatological Diseases (OCD) in Vienna, patients are routinely screened for STIs. The main aim of this two-phase retrospective study was to assess the prevalence of T. vaginalis and genital Mycoplasma species in swab specimens obtained from female patients attending the OCD. In total, 582 samples from female patients and an additional 20 T. vaginalis cultured isolates were analysed by culture, molecular and microscopic methods.
Results
T. vaginalis was detected in 4 (0.7%) of the collected samples. Additionally, 178 (30%) distinct Mycoplasma species including Mycoplasma hominis, Ureaplasma species and M. genitalium were found. The 16S rDNA sequence of the recently newly described species, Candidatus Mycoplasma girerdii was obtained for the first time in Austria, in a sample also positive for T. vaginalis. Molecular analyses of the cultivated T. vaginalis strains confirmed the symbiotic relationship with M. hominis in two out of 20 samples. The presence of Ca. M. girerdii was confirmed only directly in vaginal discharge and not in pure cultures of the parasite T. vaginalis.
Conclusion
Altogether, this study demonstrates the high presence genital Mycoplasma infections in women of reproductive age, detected by new diagnostic assays, thus enabling better screening of patients. Moreover, the symbiosis between T. vaginalis and M. hominis was confirmed.
