title: Higher seroprevalence of Entamoeba histolytica infection is associated with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection in Taiwan.
abstract: We assessed the seroprevalence of Entamoeba histolytica infection using indirect hemagglutination antibody (IHA) assay among 667 HIV-infected persons (group A), 1,311 asymptomatic HIV-uninfected persons seeking anonymous HIV testing (group B), 616 HIV-uninfected controls with gastrointestinal symptoms (diarrhea and/or liver abscess) seeking medical care (group C), and 2,500 healthy controls undergoing health check-up (group D). An IHA titer >or= 128 was detected in 7.1% of group A, 2.5% of group B, 1.8% of group C, and 0.1% of group D (P < 0.0001). The highest seroprevalence (11.2%) was noted among HIV-infected persons who were men having sex with men (MSM) 30-39 years of age. Compared with persons with gastrointestinal symptoms, the adjusted odds ratio for having high IHA titers among HIV-infected persons was 3.206 (95% confidence interval, 1.433, 7.176; P = 0.005). These findings show that HIV-infected persons, especially MSM 30-39 years of age, are at significantly higher risk of E. histolytica infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Jih-Jin
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Hsin-Yun
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Liang-Yin
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Ke
authors.forename: Keh-Sung
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Sui-Yuan
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Szu-Min
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.forename: Chin-Fu
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Hsiao
authors.forename: Jeng-Hsien
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Yen
authors.forename: Chien-Ching
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Hung
authors.forename: Shan-Chwen
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D004748:Entamoeba histolytica / Q000276:immunology*; D004749:Entamoebiasis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015497:HIV-1; D006386:Hemagglutination Tests / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan