Metronidazole resistance in Trichomonas vaginalis determined by molecular and conventional methods

Abstract

Trichomonas vaginalis (T. vaginalis) is a protozoan parasite that infects the urogenital tract of both women and men worldwide. Trichomoniasis can cause serious symptoms if untreated. Metronidazole is the drug of choice for the treatment of trichomoniasis. In recent years metronidazole-resistant T. vaginalis has often been mentioned in clinical isolates. The aim of this study was to determine the conventional and molecular methods to determine metronidazole-resistant T. vaginalis, which is seen commonly and to discuss the possible reasons for this. Samples taken from patients diagnosed with T. vaginalis from the gynaecology and obstetrics clinic between April 2015 and June 2016 were evaluated for metronidazole-resistance using molecular and conventional methods. A total of 170 patients were examined and T. vaginalis was determined in 6 (3.5%) patients. Metronidazole resistance was determined in 2 (33.3%) of the 6 clinical isolates as a result of the molecular and conventional tests applied. Metronidazole resistance was determined using nitroreductase genes ntr4(Tv) and ntr6(Tv). These findings suggest that metronidazole-resistance T. vaginalis strains can be determined in laboratory samples of cases with trichomoniasis. This may be an important underlying factor in the unsuccessful management of recurrent cases seen in routine gynecological practice.