Using a whole-cell antigen antibody to Trichomonas vaginalis was measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). IgG antibody was found in sera from only three of 99 children under 12 years of age. In contrast, serum IgG or IgM antibody or both were detected in 80 40%o of women who had vaginal trichomoniasis and in 13-7 7o of uninfected women. Although antibody was found in cervical and vaginal secretions, the correlation between current infection and the presence of antibody was poorer than found between circulating antibody and infection. IgG or IgA antibody or both was detected in the secretions of 73* 207o and 41 %o of infected and uninfected women respectively. This may be accounted for, at least partly, by previous infection since antibody, circulating or local, was found most often in women who had a history of trichomoniasis. There was no indication that some other vaginal micro-organism stimulated antibody directed against T vaginalis.

SUMMARY Trichomonas vaginalis organisms were mixed with suspensions of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Mycoplasma hominis or Chiamydia 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 six hours and all mycoplasmas within three hours. Electron microscopy revealed phagocytic uptake and destruction of these two micro-organisms within the trichomonads, gonococcal degradation being associated with lysosomal enzyme activity. There was no evidence from cultural or electron microscopy studies that C trachomatis organisms persisted in mixed culture with T vaginalis.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract