Trichomonas Vaginalis Infection from Splashing in Water Closets.

Probably most venereologists would agree that, in men, trichomoniasis is always a venereal disease, but in women the infestation is sometimes acquired other than by sexual contact. The mode of asexual transmission is not known. Trussell (1947) stated that douche nozzles, enema tubes, towels, physicians' gloves, and instruments had all been incriminated but never proved to spread the protozoa. McCullagh (1953) claimed that the main cause of Trichomonas vaginalis infection was the ordinary lavatory seat. Some support for this contention was given by Whittington (1957), who showed that the protozoa will live, at room temperature, in a drop of urine on a toilet seat, for 30 to 45 minutes. Manufacturers of sanitary ware and others have known for a long time that "splashing" often occurs during defaecation in water closets. For example, specially designed privies have been made in Great Britain for many years and exported to India, where Hindus have religious scruples against splashing. The term "splashing" means that, during defaecation, droplets of liquid from the water closet pan splash as far as the level of the upper surface of the seat (in the down position); or, alternatively, come in contact with the user's thighs, buttocks or genitalia. The present study was undertaken to investigate the possibility of women acquiring the infestation from splashing of infected urine.