Which organism is the etiologic agent of trichomoniasis?

Which organism is the etiologic agent of trichomoniasis?

• A. Plasmodium species
• B. Trichomonas vaginalis
• C. Giardia Intestinalis
• D. Schistosoma mansoni

Answer: (B)

Trichomoniasis is caused by a flagellated protozoan parasite that lives in the urogenital tract, and the organism responsible is Trichomonas vaginalis. This parasite is transmitted mainly through sexual contact and exists as a motile trophozoite in vaginal secretions, not forming cysts in humans. It can cause vaginal discharge and itching in women, while many men remain asymptomatic. Diagnosis is typically made by detecting motile trophozoites on a wet mount or by nucleic acid amplification tests. Other organisms listed cause entirely different diseases—Plasmodium species cause malaria, Giardia intestinalis (lamblia) causes giardiasis, and Schistosoma mansoni causes schistosomiasis—so they are not responsible for trichomoniasis.

Trichomoniasis is caused by a flagellated protozoan parasite that lives in the urogenital tract, and the organism responsible is Trichomonas vaginalis. This parasite is transmitted mainly through sexual contact and exists as a motile trophozoite in vaginal secretions, not forming cysts in humans. It can cause vaginal discharge and itching in women, while many men remain asymptomatic. Diagnosis is typically made by detecting motile trophozoites on a wet mount or by nucleic acid amplification tests. Other organisms listed cause entirely different diseases—Plasmodium species cause malaria, Giardia intestinalis (lamblia) causes giardiasis, and Schistosoma mansoni causes schistosomiasis—so they are not responsible for trichomoniasis.