A NEW METHOD FOR IDENTIFICATION OF TRICHOMONAS-VAGINALIS BY FLUORESCENT DNA IN-SITU HYBRIDIZATION

The protozoan flagellate Trichomonas vaginalis is responsible for huma n trichomoniasis, one of the most widespread sexually transmitted dise ases in the world. Several methods are currently used for laboratory d iagnosis, including direct microscopic observation, cell culture, immu nological techniques, and more recently, DNA probing and gene amplific ation. This report describes an in situ hybridization technique with s pecific DNA probes labeled with either biotin, rhodamine, or fluoresce in for detection of T. vaginalis with fluorescence microscopy. Repetit ive DNA sequences were evident in the nuclei of the protozoa as intens ively fluorescent regions, giving a spotted pattern. No cross-reactivi ty between the probes and the DNAs of mammalian cells, yeasts, or bact eria was noted. This technique is potentially useful for the diagnosis of human trichomoniasis in clinical samples.