In the previous paper (Jap. J. of Urol., 43: 444, 1952), 2 cases of Trichomonas vaginalis infestation in the male genito-urinary tract were reported, and it was suggested that the trichomonad might be one of the etiologic agents of non-gonorrheal urethritis, as those cases had urethritis without gonorrheal infection. Experimental inoculation of bacteria-free T. vaginalis into the urethra of 3 guinea pigs and 5 human volunteers were unsuccessful.
In this article, results of further experimental infection of trichomonads in animals are reported. Bacteria-free trichomonads inoculated into the prostate of mouse survived for 6 days at the most. When they were inoculated together with bacteria they did not remain alive even after 2 days. It is generally believed that bacteria associated with protozoal infection often promote the growth of the protozoa. In the present cases, however, bacteria inoculated without trichomonad did not show good growth and disappeared within 8 days, so that it was likely that they had little effect upon the growth of flagellates. When the trichomonads were inoculated intraperitoneally mixed with mucin and human semen, the infection was successful in much higher percentages than in the cases of inoculation without mucin and semen. It was conjectured that those substances had some beneficial effects upon the survival and growth of trichomonads in host animals.
Reviewing the literatures published on this problem, it was suggested that some preexsisting factors such as slight inflammation or stricture in the tract were necessary for the establishment of T. vaginalis infection in human genito-urinary tract.
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