PREVALENCE OF TRICHOMONA VAGINALIS AMONG ADULTS

PREVALENCE OF TRICHOMONA VAGINALIS AMONG ADULTS

ABSTRACT

The prevalence of Trichomonas Vaginalis among adults in “Osumenyi” in the Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State was investigated. This was done with a total of 100 people from their various clinics, which included a health centre, family planning, and an antenatal clinic in Osumenyi, Nnewi South L.G.A., Anambra State. The overall prevalence was 37 (37%) positive cases out of 100 samples used. The Health Centre Clinics, Osumenyi had the most positive cases (20%), followed by the Family Planning Clinic, Osumenyi (14%), and the Antenatal Clinic, Osumenyi (4%). The parasitic organism was identified using wet mount preparation of urine and vaginal secretions. The organism Trichomonas vaginalis was identified by its jerky swaying or jumpy movements. Adults aged 31-45 years had the highest prevalence, with 19 cases (19%) positive, followed by those aged 16-30 years, who had 10 cases (10%). The age range 46-60 years had the most cases (5%), followed by 61-75 years, which had the fewest (3%) cases.

Chapter one

INTRODUCTION

Donne identified and named Trichomonas virginalis in 1836. He discovered the orgnaism in genital secretions of both men and women, although it was previously thought to be non-pathogenic (Donne 1936). Trichomonas vaginalis is a pear-shaped, flagellatic, motile protozoan with an undulating membrane.

It is around 10-20 Hm broad and composed of oxide. The organism is driven by four anterior flagella, each of which is linked to an undulating membrane (Heine, 1993).

I. Vaginalis is an anaerobe that lacks mitochoria in its cytoplasm and instead includes specialised granules termed hydrogenosomes distributed throughout the cytoplasm via a slender posteriorly extending regid rod known as an axostyle (Nester et al., 2001; Rultyle, 1983). I. Vaginalis only exists as a trophozoile and does not form cysts (Lossick, 1990).

Because of its unique energy metabolism, the organism is very similar to anaerobic bacteria (Petriu, 1998). The live organism can often be identified in wet mount preparations of vaginal secretions by its distinct swaying motion (Nester et al, 2001). I. Vaginalis thrives under anaerobic environments and at high pH levels.

The maximum development and metabolic processes occur at a pH of 6.0 (Spence, 1992). In accordance with their anaerobic state, these intriguing cytoplasmic double-bounded organelles (hydrogenosomes) remove the carboxyl group (CooH) from pyruvate and transfer electrons to hydrogen gas (Nester et al, 2001).

I. vaginalis converts glucose into oseccinate, acelate, malate, and hydrogen. It also produces some carbon dioxide, but only through the Kreb cycle pathway (Dyall and Johnson, 2000).

I. vaginalis produces a sexually transmitted infection (STI) known as trichomoniasis. This infection is the most frequent nonviral sexually transmitted illness worldwide. Trichomoniasis, also known as “Trich,” is primarily an illness of the vaginal tract. This affects both men and women.

The urethra is the most prevalent location for I. Vaginalis infection in men. The organism can also be found in the epididymis, semen, and urine (Krieger, 1981). I. Vaginalis was initially discovered in the prostate secretions of infected women’s husbands (Drummond, 1936).

In women, the most prevalent location of infection is the vagina. The organism can be isolated from the cervix, vagina, bartholins glands, bladder, and, on rare occasions, the urethra.

The upper reproductive and urinary tracts (Reing, 1990). Over 95% of infections in adult women have been isolated from the vagina, with just 5% from the urinary system (Grys, 1964); 90% of cases involve infection of the urethra and Skene’s glands. In some cases, microbes were isolated from bladder urine (Thoniason, 1989).

Infected men are typically asymptomatic carriers of the organisms (Krieger, 1995), whereas the most symptomatic I.Vaginalis infections occur in women (Wolner- Hanssen, 1989).

It is the third most prevalent cause of vaginal discomfort, trailing only bacterial vaginosis and candidiasis (Nester et al, 2001).

According to the World Health Organization’s yearly estimates, there are 7.4 million trichomoniasis cases in the United States each year, with over 180 million cases recorded globally (Weinstock et al, 2004).

According to WHO in 1999, infection rates in Monogolia in 1988 were as high as 67% (Schwebke et al), with rates of 40-60% in Africa and 40% among indigenous Australians.

Trichomoniasis is also prevalent in inner city populations in the United States. I. vaginal was previously thought to be a commensal until the 1950s, when it was recognised as a sexually transmitted infection (Swygard et al., 2004). Trichomoniasis frequently causes vaginitis, an acute inflammatory illness of the vaginal mucosa.