Description
Trichomonas vaginalis is a parasite and the causative agent of trichomoniasis. It is the most common pathogenic protozoan infection of humans in industrialized countries.
Infection rates between men and women are similar with women usually being symptomatic, while infections in men are usually asymptomatic.
Trichomoniasis, a sexually transmitted infection of the urogenital tract, is a common cause of vaginitis in women, while men with this infection can display symptoms of urethritis. ‘Frothy’, greenish vaginal discharge with a ‘musty’ malodorous smell is characteristic.
Some of the complications of T. vaginalis in women include: preterm delivery, low birth weight, and increased mortality as well as predisposing to HIV infection, AIDS, and cervical cancer. T. vaginalis has also been reported in the urinary tract, fallopian tubes, and pelvis and can cause pneumonia, bronchitis, and oral lesions.
Trichomonas vaginalis infection in males has been found to cause asymptomatic urethritis and prostatitis.
