title: Prevalence and species distribution of E. Histolytica and E. Dispar in the Venda region, Limpopo, South Africa.
abstract: The prevalence and species distribution of Entamoeba histolytica and E. dispar in the Venda region were determined in stool samples collected from public hospitals and primary schools by ELISA and a nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR). E. histolytica was detected in 37/197 (18.8%) and 1/47 (2.1%) samples, whereas 50/197 (25.3%) and 4/47 (8.5%) had E. dispar in the hospitals and schools, respectively. The age groups most infected were 0-2 (33%) years followed by 20-29 years (27%). E. histolytica was significantly associated with diarrhea (77.4% versus 22.6%; chi 2 = 39.48, P < 0.05), and with the presence of lactoferrin (85.7% versus 14.2%) in the stools, indicating intestinal inflammation (chi 2 = 29.605, P < 0.05). E. histolytica was found in 5 (16.12%) of the 31 HIV-positive individuals and in 33 (15.5%) of the 213 HIV-negative individuals. E. histolytica infections are common in the Venda region and are associated with diarrhea and intestinal inflammation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Venda, Thohoyandou, South Africa.
authors.forename: Amidou
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Samie
authors.forename: Larry C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Obi
authors.forename: Pascal O
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Bessong
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stroup
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Houpt
authors.forename: Richard L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Guerrant
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004747:Entamoeba / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D004749:Entamoebiasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D015995:Prevalence; D013019:South Africa; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D000953:Antigens, Protozoan