title: Entamoeba histolytica/Entamoeba dispar infection in chronic hemodialysis patients.
abstract: To determine the prevalence of Entamoeba histolytica/E. dispar (Eh/Ed) in chronic hemodialysis (HD) patients, we collected 330 samples of feces from 110 patients, and nine individuals were found to be positive for Eh/Ed. We compared the infected patients with a group of 14 uninfected HD patients. Both groups were analyzed for their signs, symptoms and socio-economic characteristics using questionnaires. Blood tests were also performed in both the groups. Although both groups did not differ statistically with respect to their signs, symptoms and socio-economic conditions, there was a trend toward a greater number of individuals with diarrhea in the Eh/Ed infected group. In conclusion, we suggest that a parasitological examination of the patient's stool to detect the Eh/Ed complex should be included with the routine tests so that those patients with a positive fecal test could be initiated on appropriate anti-Eh/Ed therapy.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Uberlandia, Uberlandia, Brazil. ferreirafilho1952@gmail.com
authors.forename: Sebastiao Rodrigues
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Ferreira-Filho
authors.forename: Fabiola Corr A
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: da Costa Braga
authors.forename: Danilo Martins
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: de Sa
authors.forename: Evandro Batista
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Nunes
authors.forename: Juliana Santos
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Parreira Soares
authors.forename: Silvia Mamprim
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Padovese
authors.forename: Andreia Camara
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.forename: Gredista Maria
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Ferreira Oliveira
authors.forename: Gilberto
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dos Passos
authors.forename: H Lton Pereira
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Lemes
mesh_terms: D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology; D004748:Entamoeba histolytica / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004749:Entamoebiasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires