title: Application of indirect immunofluorescence to detection of Dientamoeba fragilis trophozoites in fecal specimens.
abstract: An indirect fluorescent-antibody (IFA) assay was carried out to examine for the presence of Dientamoeba fragilis trophozoites in preserved fecal specimens. Antiserum to D. fragilis trophozoites was raised in a rabbit with a dixenic culture of D. fragilis (ATCC 30948) from the American Type Culture Collection. After absorption with Klebsiella pneumoniae and Bacteroides vulgatus, the immune rabbit serum was used for examination by the IFA assay. A total of 155 clinical samples were tested; 42 with no parasites, 9 with D. fragilis, and 104 with other parasites. The IFA assay identified seven D. fragilis organisms. Two specimens with doubtful IFA assay readings showed very scanty amounts of D. fragilis trophozoites on stained smears. There were no false-positive IFA assay readings. The IFA assay appeared to be a promising method because of its speed in screening. The specificity of the IFA assay indicates that other diagnostic tests such as an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay could be developed to identify D. fragilis antigens in fecal specimens.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, Canada.
authors.forename: F T
authors.initials: FT
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: M X
authors.initials: MX
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Mackenzie
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis; D004029:Dientamoeba / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004030:Dientamoebiasis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000469:parasitology; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D010274:Parasitology / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D000953:Antigens, Protozoan