[Clinical case of the month. Amoebic liver abscess contracted in India with diagnosis confirmed by PCR].
Amoebiasis is a disease of parasitic origin responsible for dysentery and extra-intestinal complications. The infection is by Entamoeba histolytica, an amoeba whose geographical distribution is cosmopolitan, but that is more prevalent in tropical areas. Only a few infections are symptomatic and some of them may cause extra-intestinal complications. Hepatic amoebiasis is the most frequently observed. We report the case of a Belgian woman who developed an amoebic liver abscess after returning from a trip to India. The diagnosis was confirmed by PCR detection of E. histolytica DNA performed on the abscess fluid. The epidemiological, diagnosis and treatment aspects are discussed.
Laboratoire de Microbiologie médicale, CHU de Liège, Belgique.
G
G
Ho
M M Arenas
MM
Sanchez
P
P
Léonard
M
M
Van Esbroeck
M P
MP
Hayette
D001530:Belgium; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics; D004748:Entamoeba histolytica / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008101:Liver Abscess, Amebic / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014195:Travel
D016054:DNA, Protozoan