[MGE-PCR in analyzing the genetic characteristics and the clinical manifestation of Trichomonas vaginalis isolates].

Objective: To analyze the genetic characteristics of Trichomonas vaginalis isolates causing different clinical manifestation.

Method: Mobile genetic factor (MGE)-PCR technique was used for genome amplification in 30 isolates of Trichomonas vaginalis with different clinical manifestation (mild 3, moderate 22, severe 5), and neighbor joining method (NJ) was applied for cluster analysis of the amplified products.

Results: Significant genetic differences were revealed among the isolates, with a distance ranging from 0 to 1 and an average genetic distance of 0.69. A dendrogram based on the genetic difference among the isolates formed 3 clusters. Those with severe or mild clinical manifestation located in cluster 1 (Tv10, Tv15, Tv13, Tv21, and Tv25) or cluster 2 (Tv4, Tv14, and Tv26), respectively. The other 18 isolates, except Tv2, Tv5, Tv17, and Tv28, all distributed in the cluster 3 at the top of the large branches of the tree. Close genetic relationship was found in 5 groups with a genetic distance of 0: Tv12 and Tv29, Tv18 and Tv20, Tv14 and Tv26, Tv10 and Tv25, Tv15 and Tv21.

Conclusion: The clustering of the 30 T. vaginalis isolates is related to the degree of clinical manifestation that they caused, indicating a possible relationship between morbidity and the gene difference of the parasite.