Design multiplex PCR molecular technique to detect sexually transmitted agents, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, Trichomonas vaginalis, herpes virus type 2, and papillomavirus

Bastamifard, Marziyeh; Shakib, Pegah; Zolfaghari, Mohammad Reza; Aghaei, Seyed Soheil; Morovvati, Abbas

doi:10.22092/ari.2025.367597.3409

Design multiplex PCR molecular technique to detect sexually transmitted agents, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, Trichomonas vaginalis, herpes virus type 2, and papillomavirus

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Articles

Authors

¹ Department of Microbiology, Qom Branch, Islamic Azad University, Qom, Iran

² Razi Herbal Medicines Research Center, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran

10.22092/ari.2025.367597.3409

Abstract

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) that cause sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) include various organisms such as bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi. These organisms are transmitted through sexual activity, which can increase problems such as infertility, ectopic pregnancy, and the risk of genital cancers. So quick diagnosis of sexually transmitted agents is important. In recent decades, the detection of microbial agents has been affected by using molecular techniques, because it is challenging and impossible to isolate a disease agent from clinical samples simultaneously and quickly. Most unsuccessful cases and time-consuming culture-based methods lead to the non-identification of microbial agents. This study aims to design a multiplex PCR technique for detecting sexually transmitted agents of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, Trichomonas vaginalis, herpes virus type 2) HSV-2(, and papillomavirus (HPV) in 2022 in Qom, Iran. In the current study, about 100 Pap smear samples of patients in Qom City, Iran, were evaluated at a one-year time (in 2022)point for testing HSV-2, HPV, Neisseria gonorrhea, Chlamydia trachomatis, and Trichomonas vaginalis using multiplex PCR design. In the investigated samples, the frequency of Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhea, Trichomonas vaginalis, HSV-2, and HPV was 8%, 5%, 3%, 12%, and 18%, respectively. HPV and Chlamydia trachomatis agents were found in 5 samples and HPV and Trichomonas vaginalis co-infection were observed in two samples. The PCR-multiplex method has higher speed, accuracy, specificity, and sensitivity. With this molecular technique, simultaneous infections can be detected faster and more accurately in clinical samples such as pubic smears, effectively speeding up treatment and reducing infection transmission.

Keywords

Main Subjects