Isolation and differentiation of herpes simplex virus and Trichomonas vaginalis in cell culture.

During the period January 1982 to January 1985, 2,234 specimens were cultured for isolation of herpes simplex virus (HSV). HSV was isolated from 23% of these, Trichomonas vaginalis was isolated from 1.6%, and 75.3% were negative. In 0.2% of these, HSV and T. vaginalis were isolated from the same specimen. Cytopathic effects produced by HSV were identified by their sensitivity to arabinosylthymine, whereas those produced by T. vaginalis were identified by their lack of sensitivity to arabinosylthymine and by observation of motility. Cytopathic effects produced by T. vaginalis were reproduced by trophozoites from axenic cultures of T. vaginalis as well as by lysates of T. vaginalis added to serum-free BHK cells.