Comparison of Trichomoniasis Diagnosis by Microscopic Methods and Indirect ELISA Technique in a Sample of Iraqi Women

Abstract

Trichomonas vaginalis is an eukaryotic parasite that causes the most common non-viral sexually transmitted infection, trichomoniasis. This disease is responsible for many serious health problems such as preterm birth. More than half of the infected women do not develop symptoms, which makes it difficult to diagnose the
disease. In this study, a specific indirect ELISA method was developed to detect anti-Trichomonas vaginalis IgM and IgG immunoglobulins in the sera of infected females. The aim of this study was to investigate the sensitivity of a simple ELISA procedure in comparison to the classical urine examination and vaginal wet mount preparation for the diagnosis of T. vaginalis. The sensitivity of the indirect ELISA was compared with the classical vaginal discharge swab and urine microscopic examination, and the results showed sensitivities of 65.5% and 57.2%, respectively. Furthermore, the infection was measurable as acute or chronic with the refined test.