| Past two years | Past Year | Past 30 Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abstract Views | 184 | 148 | 12 |
| Full Text Views | 378 | 4 | 1 |
| PDF Downloads | 152 | 4 | 1 |
Amebic infections due to the Entamoeba histolytica-Entamoeba dispar complex: a study of the incidence in a remote rural area of Ecuador.
Simonetta Gatti
Simonetta Gatti
Laboratory of Parasitology, Virology Service, Instituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy.
Search for other papers by Simonetta Gatti in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Simonetta Gatti in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Giovanni Swierczynski
Giovanni Swierczynski
Laboratory of Parasitology, Virology Service, Instituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy.
Search for other papers by Giovanni Swierczynski in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Giovanni Swierczynski in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Francisco Robinson
Francisco Robinson
Laboratory of Parasitology, Virology Service, Instituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy.
Search for other papers by Francisco Robinson in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Francisco Robinson in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Mariella Anselmi
Mariella Anselmi
Laboratory of Parasitology, Virology Service, Instituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy.
Search for other papers by Mariella Anselmi in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Mariella Anselmi in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Javier Corrales
Javier Corrales
Laboratory of Parasitology, Virology Service, Instituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy.
Search for other papers by Javier Corrales in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Javier Corrales in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Juan Moreira
Juan Moreira
Laboratory of Parasitology, Virology Service, Instituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy.
Search for other papers by Juan Moreira in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Juan Moreira in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Gregorio Montalvo
Gregorio Montalvo
Laboratory of Parasitology, Virology Service, Instituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy.
Search for other papers by Gregorio Montalvo in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Gregorio Montalvo in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Antonella Bruno
Antonella Bruno
Laboratory of Parasitology, Virology Service, Instituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy.
Search for other papers by Antonella Bruno in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Antonella Bruno in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Roberta Maserati
Roberta Maserati
Laboratory of Parasitology, Virology Service, Instituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy.
Search for other papers by Roberta Maserati in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Roberta Maserati in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Zeno Bisoffi
Zeno Bisoffi
Laboratory of Parasitology, Virology Service, Instituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy.
Search for other papers by Zeno Bisoffi in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Zeno Bisoffi in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Massimo Scaglia
Massimo Scaglia
Laboratory of Parasitology, Virology Service, Instituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy.
Search for other papers by Massimo Scaglia in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Massimo Scaglia in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
An epidemiologic field study was conducted in the village of Borbòn in Esmeraldas province in northern Ecuador to compare different parasitologic methods in the diagnosis of infection with the Entamoeba histolytica/Entamoeba dispar complex. The results of two stool antigen detection assays (the Prospect Entamoeba histolytica microplate assay and the E. histolytica II assay) were compared with isoenzyme characterization of the amebic isolates. Nearly all (176 of 178, 98.9%) subjects were positive for intestinal parasites on direct microscopic examination, and cysts and/or vegetative forms morphologically consistent with the E. histolytica/E. dispar complex were recorded in 48 of 178 cases (27%). Culture in Robinson's medium was positive for amebic stocks in 89 (50%) of the 178 samples tested. Of the 37 isolates successfully stabilized, cloned, and characterized by zymodeme analysis, seven (18.9%) showed isoenzyme patterns of E. histolytica, whereas 26 (70.3%) showed patterns of E. dispar. The remaining four strains were identified as Entamoeba coli (three isolates; 8.1%) and Dientamoeba fragilis (one strain; 2.7%).The immunochromatographic tests showed different degrees of sensitivity and specificity when compared with isoenzyme characterization as the reference technique. The microplate assay, which does not discriminate between E. histolytica and E.dispar, showed a sensitivity of 54.5% and a specificity of 94% for both these amebic species. In contrast, the second-generation E. histolytica II test had a sensitivity of 14.3% and a specificity of 98.4% for E. histolytica sensu stricto. Our survey clearly demonstrated that more specific and sensitive diagnostic tests, such as stool antigen detection assays and isoenzyme analysis, are needed to establish the actual worldwide distribution of E. histolytica and E. dispar.
Author Notes
| Past two years | Past Year | Past 30 Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abstract Views | 184 | 148 | 12 |
| Full Text Views | 378 | 4 | 1 |
| PDF Downloads | 152 | 4 | 1 |