title: [Differentiation of Entamoeba histolytica from Entamoeba dispar using Gal/GalNAc-lectin and polymerase chain reaction].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Entamoeba histolytica and Entamoeba dispar are morphologically identical. However, the former is highly pathogenic and the latter is not.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To differentiate Entamoeba histolytica from Entamoeba dispar through ELISA and PCR techniques in Colombian isolates from feces.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive study of Colombian fecal samples from 53 males and 47 women, that were positive for the complex E. histolytica/E. dispar on light microscopy. Positive samples were cultured on Robinson medium to isolate trophozoites. The presence of specific Gal/ GalNAc-lectin was determined by ELISA and polymerase chain reaction in genomic DNA, using the combination of three nucleotides that recognize a variable region of 16S small subunit ribosomal RNA, generating a 166 base pair (bp) product for E. histolytica and 752 pb product for E. dispar.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After verification, only eight of the 100 samples were positive for the complex E. histolytica/E. dispar and were cultivated. Isolates were obtained in six cultures, one corresponded to E. histolytica and six to E. dispar.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presence of E. histolytica/E. dispar complex was largely overestimated with light microscopy. In the few samples where isolates were obtained, the technique described differentiated between both strains.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Salud Pública, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Colombia.
authors.forename: Omaira Y
authors.initials: OY
authors.lastname: López
authors.forename: Myriam C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: López
authors.forename: Vladimir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Corredor
authors.forename: M Clara
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Echeverri
authors.forename: Análida E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Pinilla
mesh_terms: D003105:Colombia; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics; D004747:Entamoeba / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D004748:Entamoeba histolytica / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004749:Entamoebiasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000469:parasitology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D037102:Lectins; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D037102:Lectins; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; C078014:N-acetylgalactosamine inhibitable lectin 35-kDa subunit, Entamoeba histolytica