A Comparative Study of the Subcutaneous Inoculation of Germfree and Conventional Guinea Pigs with Two Strains of Trichomonas Vaginalis

Abstract

Summary Several million organisms of two strains of Trichomonas vaginalis reared axenically were inoculated subcutaneously into the neck scruff area of germfree and conventional guinea pigs. One strain, C, was derived originally from a highly symptomatic case of trichomoniasis, and the other, strain R, from a mild case. Large lesions containing many active organisms and, often, large quantities of gas were found 2 weeks post-inoculation in the germfree animals inoculated with the C strain. In the conventional animals, little or no evidence of the infection was the usual finding. The R strain survived to some extent but only rarely caused a significant lesion in the germfree animals. In the conventional animals there was essentially no evidence of the inoculation. The results indicated that the C strain of T. vaginalis was more pathogenic than the R strain, and that the germfree guinea pigs were more susceptible to tissue infection with this parasite than were the conventional animals. The possible significance of these findings is discussed.