A multiplex assay of Trichomonas vaginalis, Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae infections in genital specimens

Authors

  • Mahmoud Nateghi Rostami Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran
  • Batool Hossein Rashidi Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  • Razieh Nazari Islamic Azad University
  • Fatemeh Aghsaghloo Islamic Azad University, Qom Branch, Qom, Iran
  • Azam Habibi Islamic Azad University, Arak, Iran

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.8199

Keywords:

Multiplex PCR, Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Trichomonas vaginalis

Abstract

Introduction: A significant proportion of patients with Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) are coinfected with multiple pathogens. We report here development of a multiplex PCR for simultaneous detection of Chlamydia trachomatis (C.trachomatis), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (N.gonorrhoeae) and Trichomonas vaginalis (T.vaginalis) in genital specimens from women.

Methodology: After detection of the organisms by routine techniques including PCR, culture and direct smear, multiplex-PCR was optimized to detect ompI gene of CT, parC of NG, ITS ribosomal RNA of TV as target genes. The limit of detection (LOD) was determined using serially diluted genomic DNA from known number of each pathogen.

Results: Totally 300 volunteers with mean age of 36.5 ±7.03 years were included and 266 (88.7%) had genitourinary clinical manifestations. Of 300 women, 150 (50.0%) were infected. Of them, 17 (5.7%) had N. gonorrhoeae, 98 (32.7%) T. vaginalis and 35 (11.7%) C. trachomatis. Multiplex-PCR revealed a total of 10 coinfections (3.3%) including 2 specimens of C. trachomatis/ N. gonorrhoeae, 3 specimens of C .trachomatis/ T. vaginalis and 5 specimens of N. gonorrhoeae/T. vaginalis coinfections. The sensitivity and specificity of multiplex-PCR for detecting N. gonorrhoeae were 100% and 98.59% (279 of 283) respectively and, for C. trachomatis and T. vaginalis were 100%. The LOD was 0.1 pg of DNA for C. trachomatis and N. gonorrhoeae, and 1.5 pg for T. vaginalis.

Conclusions: The performance of this multiplex-PCR makes it a sensitive, rapid and affordable technique in clinical laboratory for simultaneous detection of STIs.

Author Biographies

Mahmoud Nateghi Rostami, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran

Head of Microbiology & Immunology Department

Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Faculty of Medicine

Batool Hossein Rashidi, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vali-Asr Reproductive Health Research Center

Razieh Nazari, Islamic Azad University

Department of Microbiology

Fatemeh Aghsaghloo, Islamic Azad University, Qom Branch, Qom, Iran

Department of Microbiology

Azam Habibi, Islamic Azad University, Arak, Iran

Department of Microbiology, Science and Research Branch

Downloads

Published

2017-12-10

How to Cite

1.
Nateghi Rostami M, Hossein Rashidi B, Nazari R, Aghsaghloo F, Habibi A (2017) A multiplex assay of Trichomonas vaginalis, Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae infections in genital specimens. J Infect Dev Ctries 11:833–839. doi: 10.3855/jidc.8199

Issue

Section

Original Articles