The relationship of experimental pathogenicity in vivo with in vitro cytoadherence and cytotoxicity of 6 different isolates of Trichomonas vaginalis.

The experimental pathogenic effects in vivo and in vitro of 6 different isolates of Trichomonas vaginalis were studied following their inoculation into NMRI mice and on to adherent cultures of HeLa cells. Contact between the parasite and the adherent monolayer of cells was necessary to induce the monolayer to detach. The strains which were more virulent to mice also showed a greater weighted index of adherence; the weighted index of cytotoxicity in vitro did not, on the other hand, correlate with experimental pathology in vivo.