Detection of Entamoeba histolytica DNA in the saliva of amoebic liver abscess patients who received prior treatment with metronidazole.
Saliva is an easily-accessible and a non-invasive clinical specimen alternate to blood and liver pus. An attempt was made to detect Entamoeba histolytica DNA released in the saliva of amoebic liver abscess (ALA) patients by applying 16S-like rRNA gene-based nested multiplex polymerase chain reaction (NM-PCR). The NM-PCR detected E. histolytica DNA in the saliva of eight (28.6%) of 28 ALA patients. The NM-PCR result was negative for E. histolytica DNA in the saliva of all the eight ALA patients who were tested prior to treatment with metronidazole but was positive in the saliva of eight (40%) of 20 ALA patient who were tested after therapy with metronidazole. The NM-PCR detected E. histolytica DNA in liver abscess pus of all 28 (100%) patients with ALA. The TechLab E. histolytica II enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was positive for E. histolytica Gal/GalNAc lectin antigen in the liver abscess pus of 13 (46.4%) of the 28 ALA patients. The indirect haemagglutination (IHA) test was positive for anti-amoebic antibodies in the serum of 22 (78.6%) of the 28 ALA patients and 2 (5.7%) of 35 healthy controls. The present study, for the first time, demonstrates the release of E. histolytica DNA in the saliva of ALA patients by applying NM-PCR.
Khairnar
Krishna
K
Department of Microbiology, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry 605 006, India.
Parija
Subhash Chandra
SC
D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000378:metabolism*; D004748:Entamoeba histolytica / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008101:Liver Abscess, Amebic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000469:parasitology; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism / Q000469:parasitology*
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D008795:Metronidazole