Polymerase chain reaction confirmation of diagnosis of intestinal amebiasis in Puducherry.
BACKGROUND
Stool microscopy, the commonly used test for diagnosis of intestinal amebiasis, is unreliable as it does not differentiate Entamoeba histolytica, the causative agent for amebiasis, from non-pathogenic Entamoeba dispar and Entamoeba moshkovskii.


METHODS
Two hundred and forty-six stool samples collected between January to February 2009, were examined microscopically for E. histolytica/E. dispar/E. moshkovskii complex cysts and trophozoites. Nested multiplex PCR targeting a 16 S-like rRNA gene for differential detection of all the three morphologically similar forms of E. histolytica, E. moshkovskii and E. dispar simultaneously was done on all microscopy positive stool samples.


RESULTS
Forty-nine stool samples were positive for Entamoeba spp. by microscopy. Nested multiplex PCR for E. histolytica, E. moshkovskii and E. dispar was positive in only 19 of these samples, and only 6 of the 19 samples were positive for E. histolytica.


CONCLUSIONS
Stool microscopy grossly over-diagnosed intestinal amebiasis and is likely to result in unnecessary treatment with anti-protozoal drugs.
Parija
Subhash Chandra
SC
Department of Microbiology, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry 605006, India. subhashparija@yahoo.co.in
Garg
Atul
A
Pushpa
K
K
Khairnar
Krishna
K
Priya
T
T
D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis; D004404:Dysentery, Amebic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000469:parasitology; D004748:Entamoeba histolytica / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008853:Microscopy; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D016054:DNA, Protozoan
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