Asymptomatic amoebic infection: Entamoeba histolytica or Entamoeba dispar? That is the question.
Two cases of amoebic infection were diagnosed in a heterosexual couple. The cases, a Frenchman with previous trips to various African countries and his sexual partner, a Cameroonese woman immigrant living outside the community, were both asymptomatic; the infection had been diagnosed by chance in the man at the time of his employment in a hospital kitchen. Based on what is known of the epidemiology of amoebic infection, it may be acquired and then transmitted within a couple via the indirect faecal-oral route or, in greater likelihood, by sexual practices. Both amoebic isolates were characterised by isoenzyme electrophoresis as non-pathogenic Entamoeba dispar, zymodemel. Other diagnostic tools, such as ELISA direct stool antigen detection tests and serological assays were employed, confirming the diagnosis of E. dispar infection. Given there are a number of asymptomatic cyst passers of Entamoeba histolytica, besides human carriers of saprophyte E. dispar, we stress the importance of applying, when possible, advanced protocols of diagnosis to distinguish the microscopically identical pathogenic species from the non-pathogenic one.
Gatti
S
S
Parasitology Laboratory, Virology Service, IRCCS San Matteo, Pavia, Italy.
Petithory
J C
JC
Ardoin
F
F
Pannetier
C
C
Scaglia
M
M
D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D004748:Entamoeba histolytica / Q000276:immunology; D004749:Entamoebiasis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000635:transmission; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan