Diagnosis And Treatment Of Metronidazole-Resistant Trichomonas Vaginalis Infection

Trichomonas vaginalis is one of four protozoan species of the family Trichomonadidae known to parasitize humans. Members of this family are characterized by their variable morphology, being spheroid or ovoid in form in axenic culture, but assuming an ameboid shape on contact with other cells (4, 101). Trichomonads reproduce by longitudinal binary fi ssion and lack a cystic stage, although large, round “pseudocysts” have been known to form under unfavorable conditions. All Trichomonadidae possess fi ve anterior fl agella, four of which are free moving. The fi fth recumbent fl agellum is anchored along the organism as a part of the undulating membrane. This membrane extends along at least half the length of the organism, and is supported by a noncontractile costa. Motility, described as “bobbing” or “quivering”, is characteristic of this family of organisms (38, 39).