Signature of real-time PCR in detection of Trichomonas vaginalis infection and its association with human papillomavirus genotype 16

OBJECTIVE: Infection with Trichomonas vaginalis (TV) is the most preva-lent non-viral sexually transmitted infection in the world. The objective of the study was to in-vestigate the incidence of TV infection and its association with Human Papillomavirus (HPV) in a sample of Egyptian females.PATIENTS AND METHODS: 96 Egyptian fe-males suspected for trichomoniasis were in-volved in our study. Vaginal washouts and cer-vical (cytobrush) samples were obtained from all patients and examined for T. vaginalis by di-rect wet mount, modified Diamond's culture me-dium, and real-time PCR. Cervical (cytobrush) samples were examined for HPV using real-time PCR.RESULTS: Out of 96 patients, 28 (29%) was positive for T. vaginalis by real-time PCR. HPV was detected in 33 patients (34.4%); 31 cas-es (32.3%) were infected with HPV of genotype 16, whereas only two cases (2.1%) had geno-type 18 infection. A significant association was found between TV and HPV infection [Odds ratio (OR)=10.58; 95% confidence interval (CI): 3.819 -29.29; p < 0.001].CONCLUSIONS: When it comes to diagnos-ing trichomoniasis in a susceptible population, real-time PCR is more reliable than traditional standard approaches. A significant association between TV and HPV infection was found. Fur-ther research into the processes by which these two organisms interact at the cellular level could be revealed.