ABSTRACT
In 1836, Donné described the protozoan Trichomonas vaginalis1. In 1936 Hohne demonstrated the relationship between the presence of T. vaginalis in the vagina and symptoms localized to the vagina, such as increased vaginal discharge. In 1940, Trussell and Plass inoculated the vaginas of healthy volunteers with pure cultures of T. vaginalis and established acute symptomatic vaginitis1. This fulfilled Koch’s postulates2. In 1947, Trussell published a monograph on T. vaginalis describing infection of the lower genital tract3. Subsequent to the work of Trussell, T. vaginalis has been the subject of intense study because of the suspected related infectious complications associated with vaginal trichomoniasis, including premature labor, premature rupture of amniotic membranes (PRAM), postoperative pelvic infections, and salpingitis.
