Interaction between Trichomonas vaginalis and other pathogenic micro-organisms of the human genital tract.

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Abstract
T. vaginalis organisms were mixed with suspensions of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Mycoplasma hominis or Chlamydia trachomatis to allow ingestion of these microorganisms by the trichomonads. Culture studies indicated that gonococci and mycoplasmas were ingested and that the number of intracellular viable organisms decreased rapidly, most gonococci being killed within 6 h and all mycoplasmas within 3 h. EM revealed phagocytic uptake and destruction of these 2 micro-organisms within the trichomonads, gonococcal degradation being associated with lysosomal enzyme activity. There was no evidence from cultural or EM studies that C. trachomatis organisms persisted in mixed culture with T. vaginalis.