Serodiagnosis of Trichomoniasis in a Nigerian Population

Vaginal swabs, endocervical secretions, and sera were obtained from 270 Nigerian women aged between 18 and 40 years and screened for trophozoites of Trichomonas vaginalis by microscopy and assay of antitrichomonad antibodies by the passive haemagglutination method. Forty-five females (16.6%) yielded T. vaginalis in their vaginal swab samples, and antitrichomonal antibodies were found in the endocervical secretions of 48 females (17.7%) of whom 93.7% were confirmed by microscopy to have trophozoites of T. vaginalis in their vaginal swabs. No specific antibodies of T. vaginalis were detected in sera of any individuals screened. The determined total and differential white blood cells of both T. vaginalis infected and noninfected women showed variations from normal levels, but the presence of trichomoniasis increased the deviation, particularly the development of lymphocytosis. The presence of eosinophilia, lymphocytosis, and specific antibodies in endocervical secretions of cases of trichomoniasis without any presence of corresponding antibodies in sera of the individuals screened present a peculiar immunological response.