title: Use of a monoclonal antibody in an enzyme immunoassay for the detection of Entamoeba histolytica in fecal specimens.
abstract: An indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed for the detection of Entamoeba histolytica in human feces, using both a monoclonal antibody and rabbit antisera. It detected from less than 1 to 57 trophozoites of 6 E. histolytica strains. Stool specimens were positive by ELISA in 18 of 22 (82%) patients with E. histolytica and in 3 of 186 (2%) of patients without demonstrable E. histolytica in their stools. The latter included one from a child living near an asymptomatic cyst carrier and another from a traveler with giardiasis who had recently taken antibiotics. One hundred eight of 183 microscopy-and ELISA-negative specimens contained other parasites including Giardia (49 specimens), Endolimax nana (24), Entamoeba coli (21), Iodamoeba butschlii (2), and Entamoeba hartmanni (1). This ELISA for E. histolytica is a simple, sensitive and specific diagnostic tool.
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Ungar
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Yolken
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Quinn
mesh_terms: D000562:Amebiasis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D004747:Entamoeba; D004748:Entamoeba histolytica / Q000276:immunology; D004749:Entamoebiasis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology*; D006801:Humans; D007106:Immune Sera / Q000276:immunology; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D011817:Rabbits / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D007106:Immune Sera