title: Genetic characterization of Entamoeba dispar isolates in Northeast Brazil.
abstract: The genetic variability of Entamoeba dispar strains was investigated in 39 positive isolates on a survey of 1783 individuals from two different cities of Northeast Brazil (Recife and Macaparana) using two polymorphic species-specific loci (loci 1-2 and 5-6). A combinatory clustering analysis revealed no geographical correlation and remarkable genetic polymorphism among all the isolates examined. Nevertheless, a comparison of the frequency of eight individual PCR products, shared by both Recife and Macaparana populations, for the two loci, showed that only one product of locus 5-6 was significantly different between the two cities. These results suggested that the Macaparana population is infected by similar strains and that locus 5-6 shows potential in assaying questions related to the molecular epidemiology of this region.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Imunopatologia Keizo Asami, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Cidade Universitária, Av. Prof. Moraes Rego, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sandra M B
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Pinheiro
authors.forename: Rogério F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Maciel
authors.forename: Marcos A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Morais
authors.forename: Ivanize S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Aca
authors.forename: Luiz B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: Maria R M
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Coimbra
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D004404:Dysentery, Amebic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D004747:Entamoeba / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011204:Poverty Areas; D012424:Rural Population; D014505:Urban Population
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan