Cervix
Inflammatory / infectious
Leptothrix
Authors: John K.S.S. Philip, M.D., Ziyan T. Salih, M.D.
Topic Completed: 3 February 2003
Minor changes: 18 February 2021
Copyright: 2003-2021, PathologyOutlines.com, Inc.
PubMed Search: Leptothrix vaginalis
Table of Contents
Definition / general | Terminology | Sites | Clinical features | Case reports | Treatment | Cytology description | Cytology images | Differential diagnosisCite this page: Philip J. Leptothrix. PathologyOutlines.com website. https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/cervixleptothrix.html. Accessed December 3rd, 2021.
Definition / general
- Leptothrix are long, slender, gram positive, non spore forming anaerobic organisms that may be seen in association with Trichomonas
Terminology
- Also known as Leptotrichia or Leptotrichia buccalis
Sites
- Oral and vaginal cavities
Clinical features
- Nonpathogenic by themselves but 75% - 80% of cases have associated Trichomonas vaginalis (Bibbo: Comprehensive Cytopathology, 4th Edition, pg.103 - 4)
- Other associated infective organisms include Candida and Garderella vaginalis
Case reports
- Ultrastructure of Leptotrichia buccalis (J Gen Microbiol 1969;56:23)
- Surface structure of Leptotrichia buccalis (Can J Microbiol 1994;40:90)
Treatment
- No treatment unless associated with a pathogen
Cytology description
- Long, thin, segmented, filamentous structures
- Usually nonbranching but occasionally branching may be observed
- May form loops more frequently in conventional smears
- May show acute inflammatory changes
- Tend to form clumps in liquid based cytology preparations (LBC), as opposed to conventional smears
- Trichomonas and Leptothrix together have been referred to as "spaghetti and meatballs"
Cytology images
Images hosted on other servers:
Leptothrix
LBC: Leptothrix with Trichnomonas
Long filamentous structure
Differential diagnosis
- Lactobacillus: shorter than Leptothrix and do not form loops
