[Determination of Entamoeba histolytica infection in patients from Greater Metropolitan Belém, Para, Brazil, by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for antigen detection].
The epidemiological status of amebiasis has been reevaluated since Entamoeba histolytica (pathogenic) was considered a distinct species from Entamoeba dispar (non-pathogenic). We investigated E. histolytica antigens in stool samples from residents of Belém, Para State, Brazil, with commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (E. histolytica Test, TechLab Inc., Blacksburg, USA). A total of 845 samples were analyzed, of which 248 were positive (29.35%). E. histolytica infection was more frequent in the over-14-year age group (30.36%) than in the 0-14-year group (28.28%), but the difference was not statistically significant (p < 0.05). Of all the samples, 334 were also submitted to parasitological methods (direct, Hoffman, and Faust et al.). There were discordant results between ELISA and parasitological methods in 83 samples (24.85%), with more positive results using ELISA. Our results thus suggest that intestinal amebiasis is an important public health problem in Greater Metropolitan Belém.
Silva
Mônica Cristina de Moraes
MC
Seção de Parasitologia, Instituto Evandro Chagas, Belém, Brazil. monicamoraes@iec.pa.gov.br
Monteiro
Christiane do Socorro Pereira
Cdo S
Araújo
Bruna dos Anjos Veloso
Bdos A
Silva
Jacilene Valdevina
JV
Póvoa
Marinete Marins
MM
D000293:Adolescent; D000818:Animals; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis*; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004748:Entamoeba histolytica / Q000276:immunology*; D004749:Entamoebiasis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D014505:Urban Population
D000953:Antigens, Protozoan