Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34644344›Full record

ArticlePloS one2021

Comparison of diagnostic methods and analysis of socio-demographic factors associated with Trichomonas vaginalis infection in Sri Lanka.

Sayuri Herath, Thivya Balendran, Akila Herath, Devika Iddawela, Susiji Wickramasinghe

Open access · goldAbstract readComparative Study
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 10 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
10citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
1.4field-weighted citation impact, top 19% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

10 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 18 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
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  3. Molecular Diagnosis ofJournal of tropical medicine · 2026
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Sayuri HerathDepartment of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, The Open University of Sri Lanka, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka.
Thivya BalendranDepartment of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.
Akila HerathDepartment of Statistics and Computer Science, Faculty of Science, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.
Devika IddawelaDepartment of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.
Susiji WickramasingheDepartment of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.ORCID 0000-0003-2046-1093
University of Peradeniya · LK

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundTrichomonas vaginalis infection is underreported due to nonspecific clinical presentation and the nonavailability of sensitive laboratory diagnostic tests at the clinical setup. Hence, this study was designed to compare the sensitivity and specificity of microscopy and culture methods with polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The socio-demographic factors associated with the infection were explored.

methodsThe study was carried out at the National Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome Control Programme in Colombo and Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome Control Programme in Kandy. Samples were collected from a total of 385 patients including, 272 females (70.7%) and 113 males (29.3%), and tested using microscopy (wet mount and Giemsa staining), culture, and PCR. Genus-specific primer set (TFR1/TFR2) that amplifies 5.8S rRNA and species-specific primer sets (TV16Sf-2/TV16Sr-2 and TVK3/7) that amplifies 18S rRNA and repetitive DNA, respectively, were used. Patient's socio-demographic and sexual behaviour data were obtained using a standard interviewer-administered questionnaire. Data were analyzed with R statistical software Version 3.6.3.

resultsThe overall prevalence of trichomoniasis was 4.4% (17/385). Of these, six (1.6%) were positive for microscopic examination, 7 (1.8%) were positive for culture, and 13 (3.4%) for TVK3/7, 15 (3.9%) for TV16Sf/r, and TFR1/2 17 (4.4%) were positive for PCR. Sensitivities of PCR using TFR1/2, TV16Sf/r, and TVK3/7 primer sets were 100%, 88.20%, and 76.50%, respectively, against the expanded gold standard. Trichomoniasis was associated with age above 36 (p = 0.033), not using condoms in last three months (p = 0.016), multiple sex partners (p = 0.001), reason for attendance (p = 0.027), symptomatic nature (p = 0.015), and the presence of other sexually transmitted diseases (p = 0.001).

conclusionsThe study highlighted that age over 36 years, multiple sex partners, not using condoms, reason for attendance, symptomatic nature, and having other sexually transmitted diseases can increase the risk of acquiring trichomoniasis. Furthermore, this study confirmed PCR as highly sensitive and specific diagnostic test for the diagnosis of trichomoniasis in comparison to microscopy and culture methods.

Indexed as

AdolescentAdultCross-Sectional StudiesDNA, ProtozoanFemaleHumansLogistic ModelsMaleMicroscopyMiddle AgedPolymerase Chain ReactionPrevalenceRNA, Ribosomal, 18SSensitivity and SpecificitySexual BehaviorSocioeconomic FactorsDNA, ProtozoanRNA, Ribosomal, 18S

Identifiers

PMID34644344
PMCPMC8513885
OpenAlexW3205189082

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.