title: The zymodemes of Entamoeba histolytica in New Delhi, India.
abstract: The prevalence of various pathogenic and non-pathogenic zymodemes of Entamoeba histolytica in New Delhi, India was studied by characterising its isoenzyme patterns. Non-pathogenic zymodeme I was found to be most common and was detected in 39 of 49 infections. The other non-pathogenic zymodemes detected were XVII and XVIII in two cases each. The pathogenic zymodemes detected were II (four cases), II alpha- (alpha) (one case) and XIV (one case). Approximately 72% of those harbouring non-pathogenic zymodemes and 33% of those harbouring pathogenic zymodemes were asymptomatic. All the symptomatic individuals harbouring non-pathogenic zymodemes were seronegative for amoebiasis. However, subjects harbouring pathogenic zymodeme but asymptomatic were seropositive for amoebiasis at a titre of greater than 1:80, indicating a past infection or subclinical tissue invasion by the parasite. The new zymodeme isolated from a case of acute dysentery was designated II alpha- on the basis of the banding pattern of the enzyme glucose phosphate isomerase.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: U K
authors.initials: UK
authors.lastname: Baveja
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Francis
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kaur
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Agarwal
mesh_terms: D000562:Amebiasis / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000453:epidemiology; D000818:Animals; D004748:Entamoeba histolytica / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology