Investigation of Trichomonas Vaginalis by Parasitological and Cytological Methods in Patients Admitted to Gynecology Outpatient Clinics in a University Hospital

Aim: In this study, it was aimed to compare parasitological and cytological diagnostic methods to detect T. Vaginalis in samples taken from posterior fornix of vagina. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, study population (n=104) were selected from women applying to gynecology outpatient clinic of Mustafa Kemal University Hospital with different complaints between MarchAugust 2013. The presence of T. vaginalis was investigated by parasitological and cytological diagnostic methods. While direct microscopy, giemsa staining and culture in Cysteine-Peptone-LiverMaltose medium (CPLM) were performed for parasitological diagnosis of T. vaginalis in samples taken from posterior fornix of vagina, cervical smear stained by Papanicolaou (PAPS) was used for cytological diagnosis. Results: T. vaginalis was detected in 12 (11.5%), 12 (11.5%), 14 (%13.4) of materials by direct microscopy, giemsa staining and culture, respectively. T. vaginalis was detected only 5 (4.8%) of materials by cytology. This difference was statistically significant (p<0.05). Conclusion: Our study results showed that parasitological methods are more sensitive than cytological methods in diagnosis of T. vaginalis. Therefore, T. vaginalis should be screened in women with non-specific symptoms in under developed countries where lack of periodic examination and polygamy were seen.