Actin Gene-Based Molecular Typing of Trichomonas vaginalis Clinical Isolates from the North of Iran

Abstract

Aim: The aim of the current study is to evaluate the prevalence of trichomoniasis in men and women in the north of Iran and to find genotypes in the positive clinical specimens based on T. vaginalis actin gene. Materials and Methods: Women’s genital (n = 500) and men’s urine (n = 1500) samples were collected from the participants referred to clinics in Mazandaran Province, northern Iran, during 2006–2018. In addition, 1500 Pap smear specimens, archived in the Bu Ali Hospital, Sari City, Mazandaran Province, northern Iran, were examined. The specimens were examined based on parasitological methods, nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR), PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism, and phylogenetic analysis. Results: Overall, 17 (0.48%) of 3500 specimens were positive by PCR. Total prevalence was 0.55% (n = 2000) for women, of which 500 (1.4%; n = 7) specimens were collected freshly, and 1500 (0.26%; n = 4) were Pap smears. Moreover, six (0.4%) out of 1500 men urine specimens were positive. Overall, genotypes G, E, and I were detected with the prevalence of seven (0.2%), seven (0.2%), and three (0.08%), respectively. There was no significant statistical difference among the prevalence of the detected genotypes (P > 0.05). Conclusion: As a whole, the prevalence of trichomoniasis was low in the studied area in the north of Iran and, most importantly, the genotypes of E, G, and I were distributed among men and women in the province.