Abstract

SARIEGO RAMOS, Idalia; ROJAS RIVERO, Lázara  and  FRAGA NODARSE, Jorge. Study on metronidazole susceptibility in Cuban isolates of Trichomonas vaginalis. Rev Cubana Obstet Ginecol [online]. 2011, vol.37, n.2, pp. 271-276. ISSN 0138-600X.

The trichomoniasis is a very frequent infection at world level with significant medical and social implications. The metronidazole is the choice drug to treat this infection. However, it was demonstrated the existence of parasite strains resistant to this drug in some countries. In Cuba, most of treatment failures seem to be due to the non-fulfillment of prescribed therapy or to reinfections. Nevertheless, some of them remain without an apparent explanation and could be circulating resistant isolates. The objective of the present paper is to determine the susceptibility to metronidazole of the Cuban isolates of Trichomonas vaginalis. Forty isolates of this parasite were studied, from the vaginal exudates of adolescents attended at the gynecobstetrics hospitals of Havana. The isolates underwent in vitro trials under anaerobic and aerobic conditions, to know their susceptibility or resistance to metronidazole. Serial double dilutions of metronidazole between 400 µg/mL and 0.2 µg/mL and the dimethylsulfoxide as solvent were used. According to the trials carried out under aerobic conditions, two resistant isolates to metronidazole (Tv-352, CLM: 50 µg/mL and Tv-240, CLM: 200 µg/mL) were detected. This finding alerts us about the need to deepen in causes of treatment failures to make an appropriate assessment in order to apply the suitable treatment.

Keywords : Trichomonas vaginalis; drug resistance; metronidazole.

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