suMMARY Recently described occurrence of virus-like particles (VLP) in some strains of Trichomonas vaginalis suggests the possibility that the pathogenic significance of this organism may be broadened by its potential for viral transmission. Inasmuch as neither the soirrce nor the host range of the VLP are known, any hazard which they may present for man cannot be estimated. A model has been established for the study of acquisition of known human viruses by T vaginalis. Tissue cultures were infected with two reoviruses and a fresh isolate of genital herpes simplex virus (HSV). A squirrel monkey reovirus was also included in the study. T vaginalis was inoculated into the virus cultures three days later. The progress of virus acquisition by the trichomonads was monitored by transmission electron microscopy and by culture. Virus-containing cell fragments were engulfed by trichomonads and intemalised in vacuoles. After digestion of cellular debris only virus particle aggregates were retained. Viable reoviruses were recovered from the trichomonads for nine days, and HSV for six days. The results suggest the possibility of transmission of at least some viruses by T vaginalis.Trichomoniasis is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases. Its causative organism, Trichomonas vaginalis, has been largely ignored by the scientific community, in part because the infection it causes, although usually chronic, is not life threatening and only rarely debilitating. Information regarding the specific events of host reaction to this parasite is scant, and even less is known about its long-term effects and its relationship to other microorganisms. That T vaginalis may serve as a "vector" for other microoroganisms is a theoretical possibility in view of its ability to ingest Neisseria gonorrhoeae,' other bacteria,2 and mycoplasma.3 Unidentified virus particles in certain strains of the organism were also recently described.45In axenic culture T vaginalis is usually described as a pear-shaped free-swimming protozoon. In cocultures with mammalian cells, however, it has the tendency to attach to these cells or to the underlying surface, and to exhibit amoeboid movement,6 with evidence of phagocytosis both in vitro and in vivo.27Tissue culture monolayers inoculated with T vagin-
Pursuit of a possible metabolic basis for an unrecognized pattern of multiple congenital anomalies in a newborn girl led to the detection of a huge elevation of plasma 7-dehydrocholesterol at age 8 months. The biochemical findings and the evolving clinical picture led to the diagnosis of Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome at age 11 months. High cholesterol diet may have improved the rate of developmental progress.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.