title: Analysis of commercial Entamoeba histolytica ELISA kits for the detection of Entamoeba invadens in reptiles.
abstract: Entamoeba invadens is pathogenic in multiple reptile species and has caused severe outbreaks in zoos and other facilities worldwide. Infections can be difficult to diagnose and to differentiate from other reptilian Entamoeba species. The goal of this study was to determine if kits developed to identify the human pathogen Entamoeba histolytica could be used to detect E. invadens in reptile species at the Maryland Zoo. The E. histolytica II antigen enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and the ProSpecT E. histolytica microplate assay did not react with cultured E. invadens controls or with fecal samples from multiple reptiles, demonstrating the need for a sensitive and specific test for E. invadens.
authors.affiliation: Medical Department, The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland 21217, USA. brew0060@umn.edu
authors.forename: Laurie A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Brewer
authors.forename: Mary C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Denver
authors.forename: Meredith
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Whitney
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Eichinger
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000836:Animals, Zoo; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000276:immunology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000662:veterinary; D004747:Entamoeba / Q000276:immunology*; D004748:Entamoeba histolytica / Q000276:immunology; D004749:Entamoebiasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards / Q000662:veterinary*; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D012104:Reptiles / Q000469:parasitology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D000953:Antigens, Protozoan