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SUMMARY Amounts of putrescine, cadaverine, and tyramine were measured in vaginal washings from five patients with non-specific vaginitis (NSV) associated with Gardnerella vaginalis, five patients with trichomoniasis, and five healthy controls. Putrescine and cadaverine were present in all but one sample from the infected patients; tyramine was found in four of five samples from the women with NSV and in two of five samples from those with trichomoniasis. The mean cadaverine to putrescine ratio was significantly higher in the patients with NSV than in those with trichomoniasis. Samples from the five controls contained only very small amounts of any of the three amines. The amine content of nine of 10 samples from the infected women was reduced to normal values after metronidazole treatment. The possible sources of the amines from Trichomonas vaginalis and Gardnerella vaginalis are discussed with reference to the clinical response to treatment. IntroductionPatients and methods

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Acetylcholinesterase activity, measured per unit wet weight, is relatively low in the eggs and infective larvae of N. brasiliensis. It increases rapidly during the parasitic phase, especially in the late 3rd- and early 4th-larval stages. Activity in normal adults is extremely high (× 15 egg activity) and this is doubled again in immune-damaged adults. Possible functions of N. brasiliensis acetylcholinesterase are discussed.It is a pleasure to acknowledge the technical assistance of Miss Anne Cronin and Miss Beryl Crooks.