Trichomonas vaginalis is a flagellated protozoan parasite that infects the human urogenital tract, causing the most common non-viral, sexually transmitted infectious disease worldwide . The prevalence of T. vaginalis among women in sub-Saharan Africa is 11.5% . In about half of the infected women, T. vaginalis causes a malodorous vaginal discharge, vulval irritation and inflammation, and a ‘strawberry cervix’ characterized by punctate hemorrhagic lesions . Men typically remain asymptomatic, but can suffer from urethral discharge, dysuria, urethritis, epididymitis and prostatitis [2, 3]. Trichomonas vaginalis has been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as preterm birth and premature rupture of membranes [4–6], increased shedding and acquisition of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) [7, 8], hence contributing to the HIV pandemic.