Genetic Characterization of Trichomonad Species and Strains by PCR Fingerprinting

ŠTEPÁNKA VANÁCOVÁ, JAN TACHEZY, JAROSLAV KULDA and JAROSLAV FLEGR1
Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic

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ABSTRACT. The random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique was used for phylogenetic analysis of trichomonads, for intraspecies genealogical study of Trichomonas vaginalis strains, and for assessment of intrastrain polymorphism in Trichomonas vaginalis. The phylogenetic tree for 12 trichomonad species showed certain discrepancies with current models of trichomonad evolution. However, it shows that RAPD traits retain phylogenetically relevant information. The results of intraspecies analyses of 18 Trichomonas vaginalis strains showed a concordance between the genetic relationship of strains and their geographic origin. They also suggested a concordance between the strains genetic relationships and the resistance to metronidazole. A concordance was also found with respect to the severity of disease observed in donor patients. No concordance was found between genetic relationship of strains and strain infection with a dsRNA Trichomonas vaginalis virus (TVV). The later suggests that TVV can be transmitted horizontally among Trichomonas vaginalis populations. The identity of RAPD patterns of clones isolated from in vitro cultures as well as those of the cultures reisolated independently from the same patient within a period of six weeks suggests that individual Trichomonas vaginalis strains are not polymorphic and that the RAPD patterns are stable. Therefore, the RAPD technique seems useful for addressing of various clinically relevant issues.

Supplementary key words. Drug resistance, dsRNA virus, phylogeny, polymorphism, RAPD, Trichomonas, Trichomonas Vaginalis Virus, Tritrichomonas, virulence.