Distribution and Clinical Characteristics of Trichomonas vaginalis Infection Among Women with and Without Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Basrah, Iraq

Background: Trichomonas vaginalis is a prevalent sexually transmitted infection, but its relation to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is insufficiently characterized in Iraq. This study investigated T. vaginalis prevalence and clinical characteristics among women in Basrah, assessing its association with T2DM, demographics, and serum betatrophin levels.Methods: A cross-sectional study screened 175 symptomatic women across three Basrah hospitals using wet mount, staining, rapid antigen testing, and TYI-S-33 culture. For biochemical analysis, 128 participants were distributed into four groups (n=32 each). Serum betatrophin was measured via ELISA.Results: Out of 175 screened women, 93 cases were confirmed: 57 (61.3%) with T2DM and 36 (38.7%) non-diabetic. No significant association was found between T2DM and T. vaginalis (p=0.835, OR=1.18). Al-Fayhaa Teaching Hospital area recorded the highest proportion (45.2%). Overweight/obese individuals comprised over 82% of infected cases, and married women accounted for 89.2%. Vaginal discharge was the predominant symptom (92.5%), whereas lower abdominal pain appeared in 11.8%. Serum betatrophin showed a significant age-group interaction (p≤0.05).Conclusions: Diabetes status was not a significant independent determinant of T. vaginalis susceptibility. Vaginal discharge remains the primary clinical marker, while betatrophin demonstrates age-dependent metabolic regulation rather than being a direct infection marker