title: Differentiation of Entamoeba histolytica/Entamoeba dispar by the polymerase chain reaction in stool samples of patients with gastrointestinal symptoms in the Sanliurfa Province.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to diagnose amebiasis and also identify Entamoeba histolytica (E. histolytica) and Entamoeba dispar (E. dispar) in patients with gastrointestinal symptoms in an endemic region in Turkey.
  
  
  METHODS
  Stool samples obtained from 181 patients with gastrointestinal symptoms from the Harran University Hospital of Sanliurfa were examined for the diagnosis of amebiasis by the three methods which are as follows:- In house polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting the 135 base pair region located on the small-subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene to differentiate E. histolytica from E. dispar; and the commercial kit, RIDASCREEN® stool ELISA, that identifies Entamoeba sensu lato antigen and microscopical examination of Trichrome stained smears of stool samples.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Positivity for E. histolytica/E. dispar complex was found to be 79 (43.6%) by microscopy versus 83 (45.9%) by PCR out of 181 stool samples. A total of 45 patients were found to be positive by the antigen detection method. PCR and microscopy were both positive in 59 samples. The number of patients infected with E. dispar (39.8%) was found to be higher than E. histolytica (3.3%) while 5 patients (2.8%) had mixed E. histolytica+E. dispar infections according to PCR results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Routine diagnosis of amebiasis by a combination of microscopy and antigen detection technique should be complemented with a PCR assay as a reference test for sensitive differentiation of both species.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Harran University, Şanlıurfa, Turkey.
authors.forename: Fadile Yıldız
authors.initials: FY
authors.lastname: Zeyrek
authors.forename: Nevin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Turgay
authors.forename: Aysegül
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Unver
authors.forename: Sebnem
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ustün
authors.forename: Ulus
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Akarca
authors.forename: Seray
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Töz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis; D001391:Azo Compounds; D004404:Dysentery, Amebic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology; D004747:Entamoeba / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004748:Entamoeba histolytica / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D004801:Eosine Yellowish-(YS); D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology*; D017125:Genes, Protozoan; D020459:Genes, rRNA; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008739:Methyl Green; D008853:Microscopy; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D054679:Ribosome Subunits, Small / Q000235:genetics; D014421:Turkey
chemical_list: D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D001391:Azo Compounds; C017768:trichrome stain; D008739:Methyl Green; D004801:Eosine Yellowish-(YS)