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Eric Caumes (Infectiologist)
Caused by the parasite Trichomonas vaginalis, trichomoniasis is a very common sexually transmitted infection. Most often asymptomatic, trichomoniasis is not always diagnosed, but that could change with a screening test that only requires a drop of blood.
Less known than gonorrhea or syphilis, trichomoniasis is a very common sexually transmitted infection caused by the parasite Trichomonas vaginalis. However, it is often asymptomatic, in 70% of cases, but still causes many health problems, such as infertility in women or increased susceptibility to prostate cancer in men.
An American researcher from Washington State therefore had the idea of developing a blood test to detect it, with a result available in less than five minutes and at a total cost of 20 dollars.
Currently, to screen for trichomoniasis, women must undergo a vaginal swab. “It is a common STI that mainly affects women, men seem less affected or they are more asymptomatic“confirms Professor Eric Caumes, infectious disease specialist and consultant at the Hôtel-Dieu.
“It causes vulvitis or vulvovaginitis in women, with itching and pain on urination. It will also cause smelly secretions. A vaginal sample is therefore necessary for a direct examination, in order to make the diagnosis. further details the doctor. “But trichomoniasis can be treated well” he reassures, “by taking oral antibiotics, usually metronidazole”.
A rapid diagnostic test, from a drop of blood
This new diagnostic test requires neither training nor specific equipment. A single drop of blood is enough to detect an antibody specific to trichomoniasis. Results are displayed in a window with a dot appearing if antibody is present, indicating infection.
Professor Alderete, the lead author of the study and a professor in the School of Molecular Biosciences at Washington State University, previously identified this specific biomarker, an alpha-actinin protein. Both men and women make the antibody when they are infected, which will therefore be detected by the test. “We know a lot about the biology of this organism” explains Professor Alderete.
“There will probably never be a vaccine for tricosis simply because the body is so well equipped to evade our immune responses. But I would say we don’t need a vaccine. We just need to diagnose people, and once diagnosed they can be cured.”
Use in disadvantaged countries but not only…
Professor Alderete estimates that there are more than 9.2 million cases of trichomoniasis per year in the United States, based on incidence rates and census data. “This STI is perhaps the most overlooked among other curable STIs. We just haven’t done a good job in medicine educating people. One of the major problems is that most people are asymptomatic. In other words, you can have it, but you don’t know you have it until you have a really bad problem.”.
For Professor Caumes, “if this test is sensitive, specific with good results concerning the positive and negative predictive values, then it is very good news to facilitate the detection of this STI and to treat those affected”.