The first Entamoeba moshkovskii molecular detection in Egypt

AbstractAmebiasis infection is caused byEntamoeba histolytica. The nonpathogenicEntamoeba species,E.moshkovskii andE.dispar, are distinct but morphologically indifferentiable fromE.histolytica, which led us to use of multiplex PCR to detect and molecularly differentiateEntamoeba species in fecal samples of a cohort of 504 diarrheic/dysenteric Egyptians attending outpatient clinics of the Beni-Suef University Hospital.E.moshkovskii was detected for the first time in Egypt, added to already reportedE.histolytica andE.dispar. Molecular prevalence of allEntamoeba species was 10%.E.histolytica (1.4%) was the least prevalentEntamoeba, 6 times less than nonpathogenic amoebae (7.9%),E.dispar (4.6%), andE.moshkovskii (3.3%).Entamoeba coinfection was found in 0.8% of cases. Coproscopy had a limited diagnostic performance for the diagnosis ofE.histolytica, giving false-positive and false-negative results. Use of molecular assays, a laboratory non-coproscopic method, is preferable as it differentiates amoeba infections and monitors theE.histolytica true prevalence for better treatment and effective control.
Source: Comparative Clinical Pathology - Category: Pathology Source Type: research