Revealing the progression and pathologic features of intraperitoneal infection of Trichomonas vaginalis in mice via parasite α-actinin-based immunological detection

Background: Trichomoniasis caused by Trichomonas vaginalis is the most prevalent nonviral sexually transmitted disease in women and has frequently damaged public health. To better use the animal model and take a step forward fully elucidating this pathogen, intraperitoneal infection of T. vaginalis in mice, one of the most common mouse models, was highly concerned. Methods: By adjusting the number of parasites inoculated, acute and chronic infection models were established. Pathological changes and the presence of T. vaginalis in organs were observed at different timepoints post inoculation using histological and TV-α-actinin-based immunological detection. Results: The results reconfirmed the correlation between inoculum size of parasites and infection duration, as well as the multiplication capacity of T. vaginalis in mouse enterocoelia or invaded organs. The progression and pathologic features of vital organs (e.g., liver and spleen) from mice intraperitoneally infected with T. vaginalis in both the acute and chronic groups were also revealed. In particular, a reliable immunological method based on TV-α-actinin was first verified to clearly present the invasion of T. vaginalis into infected mouse organs. Conclusions: In brief, this study presented a clearer and more detailed pathologic characteristic of the intraperitoneal infection model, which probably provides more basic information for the use of this model in future studies. Especially, expanding on specific research applications of this model would be valuable.