Two novel serum-free media for the culture of Trichomonas vaginalis.

Definitive diagnosis of Trichomonas vaginalis, one of the common causes of sexually transmitted diseases in Turkey, relies on the microscopic examination of both fresh preparations and culture material of genital secretions and urine. The aim of this study was to compare the diagnostic efficacies of two culture media, serum-free TB1 and TB2, including iron and vitamin B12, respectively, with the well-known medium, TYM. Growth rate reached peak levels 48 h in TYM and 72 h in both TB1 and TB2 after inoculation. The highest amount of viable trophozoites has been obtained from TB1, almost equal to TYM but significantly higher than TB2. Fresh preparations obtained from the vaginal secretions of 119 patients have been examined and vaginal samples have been inoculated in TB1, TB2, and TYM. Viable T. vaginalis trophozoites have been detected in ten (8.4%) of fresh preparations and 11 (9.9%) of each medium. It is concluded that serum-free TB1 medium could be used effectively in both the isolation and maintenance of T. vaginalis culture in vitro.