Comparison of Diagnostic Methods for Detection of in Prediagnosed Vaginitis Cases and Its Association with Various Pathogens.

Objective: Parasitological diagnostic methods such as direct microscopy, staining examination and culture methods are frequently used in the diagnosis of . Though, nowadays, new diagnostic methods, especially DNA-based methods, are developing, enabling the simultaneous recognition of different pathogens. In our study, we evaluated whether  the choice of multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR), in which  and different pathogens can be detected, is be an alternative to classical methods and to evaluate the possible coexistence of pathogens.

Methods: In our study, swab samples taken during routine examination of 100 female patients who presented to Manisa Celal Bayar University and Manisa City Hospital Outpatient Clinics Obstetrics and Gynecology were evaluated. The presence of  was investigated in these samples by direct microscopy, Giemsa stain and culture. Besides , other possible agents were also investigated by real-time multiplex PCR method.

Results: At least one agent was detected in 85 (85%) of the 100 patient samples included in our study.  positivity was detected in 6 (6%) of the samples by parasitological diagnosis methods and in 10 (10%) of the samples by multiplex PCR. Additionally, with real-time multiplex PCR,  in 4 (4%),  in 3 (3%),  in 68 (68%),  in 68 (68%) and Herpes simplex virus 1/2 in 1 (1%) of the sample positivity was found. , another agent examined by multiplex PCR, was not found positive in any sample. The Kappa value of the culture that is a parasitological test and multiplex PCR for  showed moderate agreement with 59.5%.

Conclusion: It has been concluded that using  real-time multiplex PCR method, which has  high specificity and sensitivity, in addition to microscopy and culture methods in the diagnosis of , could contribute to the correct and effective treatment by detecting multiple infections.