title: [Determination of Entamoeba histolytica infection in patients from Greater Metropolitan Belém, Para, Brazil, by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for antigen detection].
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Seção de Parasitologia, Instituto Evandro Chagas, Belém, Brazil. monicamoraes@iec.pa.gov.br
authors.forename: Mônica Cristina de Moraes
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Christiane do Socorro Pereira
authors.initials: Cdo S
authors.lastname: Monteiro
authors.forename: Bruna dos Anjos Veloso
authors.initials: Bdos A
authors.lastname: Araújo
authors.forename: Jacilene Valdevina
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Marinete Marins
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Póvoa
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000953:Antigens, Protozoan