High prevalence of Entamoeba moshkovskii in a Tanzanian HIV population

Acta Trop. 2008 Jul;107(1):48-9. doi: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2008.03.013. Epub 2008 Apr 7.

Abstract

Entamoeba moshkovskii and Entamoeba dispar are microscopically indistinguishable from the pathogenic species Entamoeba histolytica. There are limited data on the prevalence of these commensal infections from Africa. We utilized PCR and antigen detection to evaluate the carriage rate of E. moshkovskii, E. dispar, and E. histolytica infection in stool from a cohort of HIV-suspected or confirmed inpatients from Tanzania. E. histolytica was detected by ELISA in 4% (5/118) while E. moshkovskii and E. dispar were detected by PCR in 13% (18/136) and 5% (7/136) of individuals, respectively (P<0.05). Supporting their commensal nature, neither E. moshkovskii nor E. dispar infection was statistically associated with HIV status, CD4 count, or the presence of diarrhea. These data suggest E. moshkovskii is a common infection in HIV-infected individuals in northern Tanzania and supports the concept that the microscopic detection of Entamoeba should be interpreted cautiously.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, Protozoan / immunology
  • Antigens, Protozoan / isolation & purification
  • CD4 Lymphocyte Count
  • Carrier State / parasitology*
  • DNA, Protozoan / genetics
  • DNA, Protozoan / isolation & purification
  • Diarrhea / parasitology
  • Entamoeba / classification*
  • Entamoeba / isolation & purification*
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / methods
  • HIV Infections / complications*
  • HIV Infections / immunology
  • Humans
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods
  • Prevalence
  • Tanzania / epidemiology

Substances

  • Antigens, Protozoan
  • DNA, Protozoan