Review article

Diagnostics of Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Lidija Žele-Starčević

Abstract

The article presents the diagnostics of sexually
transmitted diseases. Traditional approach to the diagnostics
of C. trachomatis is based on cell culture, what is
technically a very demanding procedure. The advantage of
tests founded on the antigen and nuclein acids detection is in
their speed (DFA, EIA, PACE 2) and in the possibility of the
analysis of large samples (EIA, PACE 2). Methods based on
the nuclein acids amplification (PCR, LCR) have extremely high
specificity and sensitivity. U. urealyticum and M. hominis grow
well on separately artificial nutritive substrates. The cultivation
of M. genitalium lasts 1-2 months, and is proved by PCR
tests. T. vaginalis is diagnosed in genital tract secretions by
microscopy of a native preparation or culture on various
enriched substrates. For the diagnostics of N. gonorrhoeae,
microscopy of the sample immediately after taking is of great
importance. The sample is colored by Gram or with methylene
blue. The substrates for the N. gonorrhoeae cultivation contain
rich nutritive basis with addition of blood. Selective substrates
also contain antibiotics enabling isolation of gonococcus from
highly contaminated samples. For the diagnosis of N. gonorrhoeae
commercial amplification tests (PCR, LCR) can be used.
Out of molecular methods, DNA hybridization methods (PACE
2m Digene Hybrid Capture II), besides separated tests, offer
parallel diagnostics of N. gonnorrhoeae and C. trachomatis as
well. For the detection of HPV, molecular methods are mostly
used, based on the nuclein acid hybridization (HCII) and
polymerase chain reactions (PCR). The test encompasses 13
high risk and 5 low risk genotypes.

Keywords

C. trachomatis; diagnostics; T. vaginalis; N. gonnorrhoeae; HPV; urogenital micoplasmas

Hrčak ID:

20542

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/20542

Publication date:

7.10.2003.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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