title: [Diagnosis of intestinal amebiasis using coproscopic and immunological methods in a population sample in greater metropolitan Belém, Pará, Brazil].
abstract: We compare diagnostic methods for Entamoeba histolytica in fecal samples from the city of Belém, Pará, Brazil. We analyze stool samples from children and adults (Group I); stool and serum samples from adults (Group II); and stool samples from children (Group III). In groups I and III, we used direct examination with lugol (DM), Faust et al (FM), and ELISA (detection of E. histolytica anti-GIAP coproantigen) and in group II, DM, iron hematoxylin staining (IHS), FM, ELISA, and the indirect immunofluorescence test (IFAT) for detection of IgG antibodies. Positivity was 10.50% by DM plus FM and 28.99% by ELISA. There was no correlation between positivity and age group. In Group II (n = 87), the positive rate was 4.59% by DM plus FM, 8.04% by IHS, 4.59% by IFAT, and 21.83% by ELISA. The ELISA test was the most sensitive for all groups. IFAT alone is still not a useful tool for diagnosis of E. histolytica infection. The ELISA test is simple, performed in one-third of cases used for IHS and IFAT, and greatly improves quality of diagnosis. We recommend this as the method of choice for diagnosis of suspected E. histolytica infection.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Enteroparasitoses, Serviço de Parasitologia, Instituto Evandro Chagas, Belém, PA, 66090-000, Brasil. marinete@iec.pa.gov.br
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Póvoa
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Arruda
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: C N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Bichara
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Esteves
authors.forename: Y B
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Gabbay
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Machado
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004404:Dysentery, Amebic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D004748:Entamoeba histolytica / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology*; D006801:Humans; D007158:Immunologic Techniques; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn