A 24-year-old woman complains of copious, frothy, greenish-yellow vaginal discharge with an unpleasant odour and vulvar itching. Speculum examination reveals punctate haemorrhagic spots over the cervix, and the vaginal pH measures 6.0. Saline wet mount shows motile organisms with jerky movements. The most likely causative agent is:
- A Trichomonas vaginalis ✓
- B Gardnerella vaginalis
- C Candida albicans
- D Neisseria gonorrhoeae
Correct answer: A. Trichomonas vaginalis
Explanation
Strawberry cervix, frothy greenish discharge, raised vaginal pH above 5, and jerky motile flagellated trophozoites on saline wet mount are diagnostic of trichomoniasis caused by Trichomonas vaginalis, a sexually transmitted flagellate treated with metronidazole for both partners. Bacterial vaginosis from Gardnerella gives a thin grey discharge with clue cells and pH above 4.5 but no cervical petechiae, and candidiasis produces curdy discharge with normal pH.
Reference: Paniker's Textbook of Medical Parasitology, 8th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.