Abstract
The status of a neglected, common tropical protozoan parasitic flagellate, Trichomonas vaginalis, causing vulvovaginal trichomonias is (VVT) was re-evaluated among female subjects in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. The study area consisted University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital (BMSH) and Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST), all in Port Harcourt, Niger Delta Region. Informed consent was sought and obtained before sample collection. Standard parasitological techniques were employed in vaginal swab and urine analysis. Two hundred and forty female subjects, aged 11-60 years were examined in 2014, out of which 22.5% were infected whereas in the precious study in 2006, the prevalence was 10% out of 500 subjects. UPTH had more VVT rates(9.7%, 30%) than BMSH (8%, 18.8%), in both studies respectively, although the infection is not location dependent (P>0.05). Age group 11-20 years (46.7%) had the highest infection rate inlatter with age group 51-60 years(5%) as the least; age group 19-29 years had (16.5%) as the highest in the former. Occupational prevalence shows that undergraduates and students were more infected with VVT (40%) and (25%) than others in latter while traders were most infected (11.1%) in the former, although VVT was not significantly (p>0.05) occupation related. Non-pregnant subjects (26.6%) were more infected than pregnant ones (14%);statistical analysis showed that pregnancy has close association with VVT butit is not pregnancy dependent (p>0.05). The unmarried (30%) had higher prevalence than married (11.7%). The results showed that Trichomonas vaginalis can tolerate wide range of acidic pH (4-5.5). The prevalence of VVT is on the increase; there is need for more awareness campaign and action plan for the control and elimination of this neglected common tropical disease of the youth.KEYWORD: Vulvovaginal trichomoniasis, women, Niger Delta Region, re-evaluation, upsurge.
Highlights
Vulvovaginal trichomoniasis (VVT) is a neglected chronic flagellate infection of urogenital system endemic in the tropical countries
The previous (2006) and present (2014) study populations were drawn from Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital (BMSH),and University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), except that the former included Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST), all of the sites are in Port
The higher prevalence of the infection in UPTH could be associated with the status of the hospital as the biggest teaching hospital in this Niger Delta zone, catering for women with complex gynecological problems rather than where the hospital is located
Summary
Vulvovaginal trichomoniasis (VVT) is a neglected chronic flagellate infection of urogenital system endemic in the tropical countries. Trichomoniasis is the most common curable sexually - transmitted infection with global prevalence of 8.1% among women (WHO, 2011).It issubject to denaturation on heating to a temperature above 40oC,exposure to direct solar rays in the tropics, and changes in osmotic pressure have harmful effects on it (Wokem,2006) This is a follow up study of VVT with the aim of re-evaluation and comparison of the past and current status, in order to be able to predict its future. GLORIA NGOZIKA WOKEM AND CECILIA BEKEE NDUKWU associated with cervical inflammation and substantially increased urethra viral loads have been documented in men with trichomoniasis (Kreiss et al; 1994) Women in their reproductive ages are more prone to the infection due to the high production of estrogen hormone that produces glycogen in the vaginal mucosa which the parasite is able to utilize (Anosike et al; 2004). The main mechanism postulated seem to be mediated by cell to cell adhesion, hemolysis, excretion of soluble proteinase, pore forming protein and cell detaching factor (Arora and Arora, 2008)
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