Perspective of a new diagnostic for human trichomonosis.

Several diagnostic techniques have been employed for the detection of Trichomonas vaginalis. Microtubules constitute the cytoskeleton in eukaryotic cells and are sensitive to antimitotic drugs, such as Taxol (paclitaxel). We used FLUTAX a fluorescent taxoid - to analyze the microtubule distribution in living trophozoites of T. vaginalis in urine and in vaginal discharge. A high intensity of fluorescence was observed in living T. vaginalis, epithelial cells and leukocytes present in urine and vaginal discharge. Our preliminary results show the perspective of a new diagnostic technique for trichomonosis and will contribute to the understanding of the cytoskeleton of T. vaginalis.