Comparison of virulence of clones of two Trichomonas vaginalis strains by the subcutaneous mouse assay.

No statistical differences in virulence were found among five clones isolated from each of two Trichomonas vaginalis strains JH31A and Balt 42. The former strain, isolated from a patient showing no cervical epithelial abnormalities, caused relatively small subcutaneous lesions in mice [mean volume for the noncloned strain, 75.45 +/- 4.43 mm3 (n = 70); mean of means for cloned populations, 77.28 +/- 3.14 mm3 (n = 230)]. The latter, Balt 42, isolated from a woman with an in situ carcinoma of the cervix uteri, produced large subcutaneous abscesses in mice [mean volume for the noncloned strain, 202.28 +/- 12.53 mm3 (n = 55); mean of means for cloned populations, 200.48 +/- 13.72 mm3 (n = 264)]. The apparent homogeneity of T. vaginalis strains with regard to virulence reinforces the dependability of the subcutaneous mouse assay.