title: First molecular identification of Entamoeba moshkovskii in Malaysia.
abstract: Entamoeba moshkovskii and Entamoeba dispar are microscopically indistinguishable from the pathogenic species Entamoeba histolytica. Although sporadic cases of human infection with E. moshkovskii have been reported, the amoeba is still considered primarily as a free-living amoeba. A cross-sectional study was carried out among Orang Asli communities in 3 different states of Peninsular Malaysia. Fecal samples were examined by formalin-ether sedimentation and trichrome staining techniques and then single-round PCR assay was used to detect E. moshkovskii. Out of 500 fecal samples examined microscopically, 93 (18·6%) samples were positive for E. histolytica/E. dispar/E. moshkovskii complex cysts and/or trophozoites. PCR products were detected in 106 fecal samples. E. moshkovskii isolates were detected in 13 (12·3%) fecal samples. Of the 13 E. moshkovskii-positive samples, 5 were of single isolation of E. moshkovskii, 6 were also positive for E. dispar, and only 2 samples were positive for E. dispar and E. histolytica. Moreover, 3 E. moshkovskii-positive samples were collected from symptomatic individuals while the remaining 10 samples were from asymptomatic subjects. This is the first report on the identification of E. moshkovskii in Malaysia. Further studies are needed to confirm the pathogenicity of E. moshkovskii infection and determine the epidemiology among Orang Asli communities in Malaysia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology and Medical Entomology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, 50300 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Tengku Shahrul
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Anuar
authors.forename: Hesham M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Al-Mekhlafi
authors.forename: Mohamed Kamel Abdul
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Ghani
authors.forename: Siti Nor
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Azreen
authors.forename: Fatmah Md
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Salleh
authors.forename: Nuraffini
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ghazali
authors.forename: Mekadina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bernadus
authors.forename: Norhayati
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Moktar
mesh_terms: D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics; D004747:Entamoeba / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004749:Entamoebiasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia / Q000453:epidemiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015995:Prevalence
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan