Infection Rate and Clinical Symptoms of Trichomoniasis among Women Referring to the Hospital in Mahshahr City in Khuzestan Province, Southwest of Iran

Backgrounds: Trichomoniasis is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections in the world. The main aim of the present descriptive study was to determine the prevalence rate and clinical symptoms of trichomoniasis among women referring to the hospital in Mahshahr city in Khuzestan province, southwest of Iran. Materials Methods: Urine samples were collected from 2200 women referring to Imam Musa Kazim hospital in Mahshahr city. In addition, 500 Pap smear samples were used for early detection of Trichomonas vaginalis. At first, parasitological tests were performed to detect T. vaginalis in urine and dissolved Pap smear samples using microscopic examination. Finally, DNA extraction was performed on 34 parasites isolated from positive urine and Pap smear samples. Then the 18s rRNA gene of the parasite was amplified by PCR method. The PCR products of the 18s rRNA gene were finally sequenced. Findings: The prevalence rate of this parasite was determined to be 1.54%. The highest prevalence rate of infection and clinical symptoms were observed in women aged 31-40 years. Totally, clinical symptoms were observed in 64.70% of infected women, including vaginal itching and irritation (64.70%) and abnormal discharge (26.47%). Conclusion: The prevalence rate of Trichomonas infection was relatively low in women living in Mahshahr. In addition, about 35.29% of infected women were found to be clinically asymptomatic.