THE DEMONSTRATION OF TRICHOMONAS VAGINALIS BY IMMUNOFLUORESCENCE

Abstract

This chapter discusses the demonstration of Trichomonas vaginalis by immunofluorescence. A fresh isolate of T. vaginalis that had been rendered free of contaminant organisms was incubated at 37° C anaerobically with gentle agitation for 72 hours in 13 liters of the commercially available medium, Trich-O-Med. The organisms were recovered by centrifugation and subsequently washed three times with pH 6.2 phosphate buffered saline. Extraction was done in saline by cryolysis. Rabbits were injected by various routes over a three week period. The indirect procedure was used with fluorescein tagged goat anti-rabbit serum. The Leitz fluorescence microscope was used to view the reaction. In each case, the slides from the positive cultures demonstrated the fluorescent trichomonads. In each case, the slides from the positive cultures demonstrated the fluorescent trichomonads. Morphology appeared typical except the flagella were not demonstrable. Smears were made from the swabs in saline and treated as above using the indirect immunofluorescent procedure. Hanging drop preparations were also observed.