Trichomoniasis: What's New?

Trichomonas vaginalis is the most common nonviral sexually transmitted disease in the world. Recent research has elucidated several virulence factors that allow T. vaginalis to adhere to extracellular host proteins and evade the host immune system. Further investigation is needed to determine the mechanisms responsible for the perinatal morbidity associated with trichomoniasis and to evaluate the interactions between trichomoniasis and HIV infection. An effort to decrease T. vaginalis associated with perinatal morbidity by metronidazole treatment in pregnancy was unsuccessful. However, more sensitive tools for diagnosis such as polymerase chain reaction may further facilitate future understanding of the epidemiology and risk factors of disease and improve approaches to control this widespread infection. Treatment has remained highly efficacious with single-dose metronidazole, although concern regarding drug resistance has led to more systematic evaluations of the prevalence of metronidazole resistance and alternatives to metronidazole treatment.