Comparison of virulence of clones of twoTrichomonas vaginalis strains by the subcutaneous mouse assay

Abstract

No statistical differences in virulence were found among five clones isolated from each of twoTrichomonas vaginalis strains JH31A and Balt 42. The former strain, isolated from a patient showing no cervical epithelial abnormalities, caused relatively small subcutaneous lesions in mice [mean volume for the noncloned strain, 75.45±4.43 mm³ (n=70); mean of means for cloned populations, 77.28±3.14 mm³ (n=230)]. The latter, Balt 42, isolated from a woman with an in situ carcinoma of the cervix uteri, produced large subcutaneous abscesses in mice [mean volume for the noncloned strain, 202.28±12.53 mm³ (n=55); mean of means for cloned populations, 200.48±13.72 mm³ (n=264)]. The apparent homogeneity ofT. vaginalis strains with regard to virulence reinforces the dependability of the subcutaneous mouse assay.