title: Evaluation of newer diagnostic methods for the detection and differentiation of Entamoeba histolytica in an endemic area.
abstract: We evaluated the colorimetric polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based method for the detection and differentiation of Entamoeba spp. and compared the efficacy of E. histolytica-specific antigen detection in faeces with the detection of specific antibodies to E. histolytica-specific antigen in faeces, by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Faecal samples were obtained from patients attending hospital in Chandigarh, India, from March 2001 to February 2002. The PCR-based colorimetric method was found to be the most sensitive (100%) and it could differentiate between pathogenic and non-pathogenic Entamoeba spp. The present study also emphasized that the antigen detection system may prove to be a better diagnostic tool than the antibody detection system in endemic areas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine and Biotechnology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh 160012, India.
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chibbar
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bansal
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kaur
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Vohra
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D004748:Entamoeba histolytica / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004749:Entamoebiasis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D010274:Parasitology / Q000379:methods; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D000953:Antigens, Protozoan