IMMUNO-CYTOCHEMICAL IDENTIFICATION OF TRICHOMONADS

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  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 104  (5) , 247-249
Abstract
Trichomonas vaginalis is 1 of the more common pathogens of the genitourinary tract. Morphologic studies of trichomonal infections were hampered by the fragile nature of these thin-walled flagellates and the lack of specific histochemical procedures to identify the fragmented organsims found in tissue sections. These limitations have usually restricted positive identification to smears of freshly obtained specimens. To overcome these limitations, a rabbit antiserum specific for Trichomonas organisms was produced by repeated s.c. injections of a documented strain of T. vaginalis maintained in vitro. Using this antiserum, immunoperoxidase techniques were modified so that trichomonads were clearly identified in smears and in paraffin-embedded tissue sections. This method seems useful in establishing the presence of these organisms in tissue and may subsequently contribute to the histopathologic definition of trichomoniasis in man.