MicrobeWorld

An electron micrograph depicts the Trichomonas vaginalis parasite adhering to vaginal epithelial cells collected from vaginal swabs. A non-adhered parasite (right) is pear-shaped, whereas the attached parasite is flat and amoeboid.

Credit: Image courtesy of: Antonio Pereira-Neves and Marlene Benchimol, Santa Ursula University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Trichomoniasis (trick-oh-moe-nye-uh-sis) is one of the most common curable sexually transmitted diseases, especially in young, sexually active women. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an estimated 7.4 million new cases occur in men and women every year in the United States. Epidemiologic studies suggest that trichomoniasis is 1.5 to 4.0 times more common in African Americans than other racial/ethnic groups.

NIAD