title: Detection of Entamoeba histolytica by Recombinase Polymerase Amplification.
abstract: Amebiasis is an important cause of diarrheal disease worldwide and has been associated with childhood malnutrition. Traditional microscopy approaches are neither sensitive nor specific for Entamoeba histolytica. Antigen assays are more specific, but many cases are missed unless tested by molecular methods. Although polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is effective, the need for sophisticated, expensive equipment, infrastructure, and trained personnel limits its usefulness, especially in the resource-limited, endemic areas. Here, we report development of a recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) method to detect E. histolytica specifically. Using visual detection by lateral flow (LF), the test was highly sensitive and specific and could be performed without additional equipment. The availability of this inexpensive, sensitive, and field-applicable diagnostic test could facilitate rapid diagnosis and treatment of amebiasis in endemic regions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas; Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas; Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Matemáticas, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia; Departamento de Medicina Interna, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia; Departamento de Salud Pública, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia.
authors.forename: Gayatri
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nair
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas; Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas; Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Matemáticas, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia; Departamento de Medicina Interna, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia; Departamento de Salud Pública, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia.
authors.forename: Mauricio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rebolledo
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas; Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas; Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Matemáticas, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia; Departamento de Medicina Interna, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia; Departamento de Salud Pública, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia.
authors.forename: A Clinton
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: White
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas; Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas; Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Matemáticas, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia; Departamento de Medicina Interna, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia; Departamento de Salud Pública, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia.
authors.forename: Zachary
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Crannell
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas; Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas; Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Matemáticas, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia; Departamento de Medicina Interna, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia; Departamento de Salud Pública, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia.
authors.forename: R Rebecca
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Richards-Kortum
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas; Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas; Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Matemáticas, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia; Departamento de Medicina Interna, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia; Departamento de Salud Pública, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia.
authors.forename: A Elizabeth
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Pinilla
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas; Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas; Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Matemáticas, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia; Departamento de Medicina Interna, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia; Departamento de Salud Pública, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia.
authors.forename: Juan David
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Ramírez
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas; Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas; Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Matemáticas, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia; Departamento de Medicina Interna, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia; Departamento de Salud Pública, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia.
authors.forename: M Consuelo
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: López
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas; Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas; Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Matemáticas, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia; Departamento de Medicina Interna, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia; Departamento de Salud Pública, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia alcastel@utmb.edu.
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Castellanos-Gonzalez
mesh_terms: D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000378:metabolism; D004747:Entamoeba; D004748:Entamoeba histolytica; D004749:Entamoebiasis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000469:parasitology; D006801:Humans; D021141:Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D045522:Recombinases / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D045522:Recombinases