Seroprevalence of Entamoeba histolytica infection among men who have sex with men in Sydney, Australia.
A retrospective analysis was undertaken to determine the seroprevalence of Entamoeba histolytica infection in Sydney, Australia. Using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, 429 high risk human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected men who have sex with men (MSM), 446 low risk HIV-uninfected MSM, and 456 HIV-uninfected controls were assessed. Seroprevalence rates were 5.13% for the high risk HIV-infected MSM group, 0.22% for the low risk HIV-uninfected MSM group, and 0.44% for the control group. We found that high risk HIV-infected MSM have a significantly greater seroprevalence of E. histolytica with a relative risk of 22.87, when compared with low risk HIV-uninfected MSM and 11.69 when compared with controls. These findings show that in Sydney, sexually active HIV-infected MSM are at greater risk of developing amoebic disease caused by E. histolytica than HIV-uninfected MSM and the general population.
James
Rodney
R
Department of Microbiology, St. Vincent's Hospital, Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia. rod_s_james@yahoo.com.au
Barratt
Joel
J
Marriott
Deborah
D
Harkness
John
J
Stark
Damien
D
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004748:Entamoeba histolytica / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004749:Entamoebiasis / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009517:New South Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D021841:Safe Sex; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D055815:Young Adult
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan