Abstract
Summary
The survival of Trichomonas vaginalis was determined by studying discharge from 50 untreated patients with vaginal trichomoniasis. Droplets of the discharge were placed on the enamel surface of wooden blocks and tested under natural conditions of drying at room temperature.
Tests at intervals ranging from 10 minutes to 7 hours were made by comparing the activity of the flagellates in direct microscopic examination with their ability to multiply in serial cultures. A close correlation was observed between the two procedures. The trichomonads survived in 100% of the tests at 45 minutes, in 96% at 1 hour, in 56% at 3 hours and in 4% at 6 hours. No survival was demonstrated at 7 hours.
These data, together with experimental and epidemiologic reports of other workers indicate that fomites contaminated with Trichomonas vaginalis may, under natural conditions, act as agents in the transmission of vaginal trichomoniasis.
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