Objectives: The aim of this study was to explore the cytomorphometric and morphological effects of Trichomonas vaginalis in exfoliated epithelial cells. Study Design: Ninety-six Pap-stained cervical smears were divided into a study group and two control groups as follows: T. vaginalis cases, a first control group with inflammation, and a second control group without inflammation. Micronucleated, binucleated, karyorrhectic, karyolytic, and karyopyknotic cells and cells with perinuclear halos per 1,000 epithelial cells were counted. Nuclear and cellular areas were evaluated in 70 clearly defined cells in each smear using image analysis. Results: The frequencies of morphological parameters in the T. vaginalis cases were higher than the values of the two control groups, and the difference among groups was found to be significant (p < 0.05). The nuclear and cytoplasmic areas of epithelial cells were diminished in patients with trichomoniasis. The mean nucleus/cytoplasm ratio in T. vaginalis patients was higher than the value in the control groups, and the difference between the study group and control group 1 was significant. However, there was no statistically significant increase between the study group and control group 2. Conclusions:T. vaginalis exhibited significant changes in the cellular size and nuclear structure of the cells. The rising frequency of micronuclei, nuclear abnormalities, and changing nucleus/cytoplasm ratio may reflect genotoxic damage in trichomoniasis.

Keywords:
Trichomonas vaginalis, Micronucleus, Cytomorphometry, Morphology, Nuclear alteration, Exfoliative cytology
1.
Demirezen S, Safi Z, Beksaç S: The interaction of Trichomonas vaginalis with epithelial cells, polymorphonuclear leucocytes and erythrocytes on vaginal smears; light microscopic observation. Cytopathology 2000;11:326-332.
2.
Garcia AF, Alderete JF: Characterization of the Trichomonas vaginalis surface-associated AP65 and binding domain interacting with trichomonads and host cells. BMC Microbiology 2007;7:116.
3.
Hirt RP, Noel CJ, Sicheritz-Ponten T, Tachezy J, Fiori PL: Trichomonas vaginalis surface proteins: a view from the genome. Trends Parasitol 2007;23:540-547.
4.
Safi Oz Z, Dogan Gun B, Ozdamar SO: Light microscopic observation on phagocytosis of Candida spp. blastospores by Trichomonas vaginalis with anal canal carcinoma. Cytopathology 2012;23:207-209.
5.
Jen MH, Hwang JJ, Yang JY, et al: Micronuclei and nuclear anomalies in urinary exfoliated cells of subjects in radionuclide-contaminated regions. Mutat Res 2002;520:39-46.
6.
Loss R, Sandrin R, Franc BH, Azevedo-Alanis LR, Grégio AM, Machado MA, Lima AS: Cytological analysis of the epithelial cells in patients with oral candidiasis. Mycoses 2011;54:130-135.
7.
Ogden GR, Wight AJ, Rice P: Effect of alcohol on the oral mucosa assessed by quantitative cytomorphometry. J Oral Pathol Med 1999;28:216-220.
8.
Ramaesh T, Mendis BR, Ratnatunga N, Thattil RO: The effect of tobacco smoking and betel chewing with tobacco on the buccal mucosa: a cytomorphometric analysis. J Oral Pathol Med 1999;28:385-388.
9.
Hallikerimath S, Sapra G, Kale A, et al: Cytomorphometric analysis and assessment of periodic acid Schiff positivity of exfoliated cells from apparently normal buccal mucosa of type 2 diabetic patients. Acta Cytol 2011;55:197-202.
10.
Tolbert P, Shy CM, Allen JW: Micronucleus and other nuclear anomalies in buccal smears: methods development. Mutat Res 1992;271:69-77.
11.
Samanta S, Dey P: Micronucleus and its applications. Diagn Cytopathol 2012;40:84-90.
12.
Cortés-Gutiérrez E, Dávila-Rodríguez M, Vargas-Villarreal J, Hernández-Garza F, Cerda-Flores RM: Association between human papilloma virus-type infections with micronuclei frequencies. Prague Med Rep 2010;111 (1):35-41.
13.
Samanta S, Dey P, Nijhawan R: Micronucleus in cervical intraepithelial lesions and carcinoma. Acta Cytol 2011a; 55:42-47.
14.
Falck G: Micronuclei in human peripheral lymphocytes - mechanistic origin and use as a biomarker of genotoxic effects in occupational exposure; in Vainio H (ed): People and Work Research Reports 104. Helsinki, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, 2014, p 22.
15.
Rosin MP, Anwar W: Chromosomal damage in urothelial cells from Egyptians with chronic Schistosoma haematobium infections. Int J Cancer 1992;50:539-543.
16.
Dimitrijević A, Milosević-Djordjević O, Grujicić D, Arsenijević S: Micronucleus frequency in women with genital Chlamydia trachomatis infection before and after therapy. Mutat Res 2006;608:43-48.
17.
Safi Oz Z, Dogan Gun B, Ozdamar SO: Evaluation of micronuclei, nuclear anomalies and the nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio of exfoliated cervical epithelial cells in genital candidiasis. Acta Cytol 2015;59:180-186.
18.
Liu MT, Chen YR, Chen SC, et al: Epstein-Barr virus latent membrane protein 1 induces micronucleus formation, represses DNA repair and enhances sensitivity to DNA-damaging agents in human epithelial cells. Oncogene 2004;23:2531-2539.
19.
Safi Oz Z: The interaction between human papillomavirus proteins and cytoskeletal filaments; in Vanden Broeck D (ed): Human Papillomavirus and Related Diseases - from Bench to Bedside. Research Aspects. Rijeka, InTech, 2012, pp 291-310.
20.
Hatch EM, Fischer AH, Deerinck TJ, Hetzer MW: Catastrophic nuclear envelope collapse in cancer cell micronuclei. Cell 2013;154:47-60.
21.
Myers RK, McGavin MD, Zachary JF: Cellular adaptations, injury, and death: morphologic, biochemical, and genetic bases; in McGavin MD, Zachary JF (eds): Pathologic Basis of Veterinary Disease, ed 5. St. Louis, Mosby Elsevier, 2013, p 17.
© 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel
2015
Copyright / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer
Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.
You do not currently have access to this content.