Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Prevalence and Molecular Differentiation of Entamoeba histolytica, Entamoeba dispar, Entamoeba moshkovskii, and Entamoeba hartmanni in Egypt

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Acta Parasitologica Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Introduction

Entamoeba histolytica-caused amoebiasis is a major cause of mortality worldwide. E. histolytica is morphologically indistinguishable from nonpathogenic species like E. dispar, E. moshkovskii, and E. hartmanni. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is the approved method by World Health Organization for diagnosis and differentiation of amoebiasis. This study aims to molecularly differentiate the four Entamoeba spp. using conventional PCR and correlate their prevalence with the patients’ sociodemographic data.

Methods

We collected fecal samples of 175 patients with gastrointestinal diseases at Damanhour General Hospital (El-Behira, Egypt). All microscopically positive samples were subjected to conventional PCR.

Results

The overall prevalence of Entamoeba infection was 65.7% (115/175). The differentiation by PCR was successfully attained in 102 samples. The species distribution was as follows: E. histolytica (14.7%), E. dispar (61.8%), E. moshkovskii (11.8%); besides, 11.8% of samples revealed mixed infection. Of note, the infection rate was higher in men, patients from rural areas and patients who did not have sanitation facilities for sewage disposal.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates a high prevalence of infections caused by the nonpathogenic Entamoeba spp. E. dispar, E. moshkovskii, and E. hartmanni along with the pathogenic E. histolytica. Hence, we recommend PCR assay as an accurate, rapid, and effective diagnostic method for the detection and differentiation of the four morphologically indistinguishable Entamoeba spp. in both routine diagnosis of amoebiasis and epidemiological surveys.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Calegar AD, Nunes CB, Monteiro LJK, dos Santos PJ, Toma K, Gomes FT et al (2016) Frequency and molecular characterization of Entamoeba histolytica, Entamoeba dispar, Entamoeba moshkovskii, and Entamoeba hartmanni in the context of water scarcity in northeastern Brazil. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz Rio de Janeiro 111(2):114–119. https://doi.org/10.1590/0074-02760150383

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Lau LY, Anthony C, Fakhrurrazi AS, Ibrahim J, Ithoi I, Mahmud R (2013) Real-time PCR assay in differentiating Entamoeba histolytica, Entamoeba dispar and Entamoeba moshkovskii infections in Orang Asli settlements in Malaysia. Parasit Vectors 6:250. https://doi.org/10.1186/1756-3305-6-250

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  3. Paglia GM, Viscab P (2004) An improved PCR-based method for detection and differentiation of Entamoeba histolytica and Entamoeba dispar in formalin-fixed stools. Acta Trop 92:273–277. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actatropica.2004.09.003

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Hamzah Z, Petmitr S, Mungthin M, Leelayoova S, Chavalitshewinkoon-Petmitr P (2006) Differential detection of Entamoeba histolytica, Entamoeba dispar and Entamoeba moshkovskii by a single-round PCR assay. J Clin Microbiol 44(9):3196–3200. https://doi.org/10.1128/jcm.00778-06

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  5. Royer LT, Gilchrist C, Kabir M, Arju T, Ralston SK, Haque R et al (2012) Entamoeba bangladeshi nov. sp., Bangladesh. Emerg Infect Dis 18(9):1543–1545. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid1809.120122

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  6. El-Bakri A, Samie A, Ezzedine S, Abu Odeh R (2013) Differential detection of Entamoeba histolytica, Entamoeba dispar and Entamoeba moshkovskii in fecal samples by nested PCR in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Acta Parasitol 58(2):185–190. https://doi.org/10.2478/s11686-013-0128-8

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Gomes TDS, Garcia MC, Cunha FDS, de Macedo HW, Peralta JM, Peralta RHS (2014) Differential diagnosis of Entamoeba spp in clinical stool samples using SYBR green real-time polymerase chain reaction. Sci World J 2014:645084. https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/645084

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Parija CS, Garg A, Pushpa K, Khairnar K, Gastroenterol JPT (2010) Polymerase chain reaction confirmation of diagnosis of intestinal amebiasis in Puducherry. Indian J Gastroenterol 29:140–142. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12664-010-0033-0

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Verweij JJ, Oostvogel F, Brienen EA, Nang-Beifubah A, Ziem J, Polderman AM (2003) Short communication: prevalence of Entamoeba histolytica and Entamoeba dispar in northern Ghana. Trop Med Int Health 8:1153–1156. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1360-2276.2003.01145.x

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Kebede A, Verweij JJ, Endeshaw T, Messele T, Tasew G, Petros B et al (2004) The use of real-time PCR to identify Entamoeba histolytica and Entamoeba dispar infections in prisoners and primary-school children in Ethiopia. Ann Trop Med Parasitol 98:43–48. https://doi.org/10.1179/000349804225003082

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Calderaro A, Gorrini C, Bommezzadri S, Piccolo G, Dettori G, Chezzi C (2005) Entamoeba histolytica and Entamoeba dispar comparison of two PCR assays for diagnosis in a non-endemic setting. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 100:450–457. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trstmh.2005.07.015

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Lebbad M, Svard SG (2005) PCR differentiation of Entamoeba histolytica and Entamoeba dispar from patients with amoeba infection initially diagnosed by microscopy. Scand J Infect Dis 37:680–685. https://doi.org/10.1080/00365540510037812

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Ramos F, Moran P, Gonzalez F, Garcia G, Ramiro M, Gomez A et al (2005) Entamoeba histolytica and Entamoeba dispar: prevalence infection in a rural Mexican community. Exp Parasitol 110:300–327. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.exppara.2005.03.015

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Samie A, Mduluza T, Sabeta CT, Njayou M, Bessong PO, Obi CL (2005) Detection and differentiation of Entamoeba histolytica and Entamoeba dispar from clinical samples by PCR and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. J Trop Microbiol Biotechnol 5:3–9. https://doi.org/10.4314/jtmb.v1i1.35433

    Google Scholar 

  15. Fotedar R, Stark D, Beebe N, Marriott D, Ellis J, Harkness J (2007) PCR detection of Entamoeba histolytica, Entamoeba dispar, and Entamoeba moshkovskii in stool samples from Sydney. Aust J Clin Microbiol 45:1035–1037. https://doi.org/10.1128/JCM.02144-06

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Anuar ST, Al-Mekhlafi MH, Abdul Ghani KM, Abu Bakar E, Azreen NS, Md Salleh F et al (2012) Molecular epidemiology of amoebiasis in Malaysia: highlighting the different risk factors of Entamoeba histolytica and Entamoeba dispar infections among Orang Asli communities. Int J Parasitol 42:1165–1175. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpara.2012.10.003

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Blessmann J, Ali IK, Nu PA, Dinh BT, Viet TQ, Van AL et al (2003) Longitudinal study of intestinal Entamoeba histolytica infections in asymptomatic adult carriers. J Clin Microbiol 41:4745–4750. https://doi.org/10.1128/JCM.41.10.4745-4750.2003

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  18. Khairnar K, Parija CS (2007) A novel nested multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for differential detection of Entamoeba histolytica, E. moshkovskii and E. dispar DNA in stool samples. BMC Microbiol 7:47. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2180-7-47

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  19. Abd-Alla DM, Ravdin IJ (2002) Diagnosis of amoebic colitis by antigen capture ELISA in patients presenting with acute diarrhea in Cairo, Egypt. Trop Med Int Health 7:365–370. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-3156.2002.00862.x

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Al-Areeqi AM, Sady H, Al-Mekhlafi MH, Anuar ST, Al-Adhroey HA, Atroosh MW et al (2017) First molecular epidemiology of Entamoeba histolytica, E. dispar and E. moshkovskii infections in Yemen: different species-specific associated risk factors. Trop Med Int Health 22:493–504. https://doi.org/10.1111/tmi.12848

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Shetty N, Narasimha M, Raghuveer TS, Elliott E, Farthing MJ, Macaden R (1990) Intestinal amoebiasis and giardiasis in southern Indian infants and children. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 84:382–384. https://doi.org/10.1016/0035-9203(90)90328-C

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Waqar SN, Hussain H, Khan R, Khwaja A, Majid H, Malik S et al (2003) Intestinal parasitic infections in children from northern Pakistan. Pak Med Net J 12:73–77

    Google Scholar 

  23. Sayyari AA, Imanzadeh F, Yazdi SAB, Karami H, Yaghoobi M (2005) Prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections in the Islamic Republic of Iran. East Mediterr Health J 11:377–380

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Zahida T, Shabana K, Lahsari MH (2010) Prevalence of Entamoeba histolytica in humans. Pak J Pharm Sci 23:344–348

    Google Scholar 

  25. Ogzumus OB, Efe U (2007) Distribution of intestinal parasites detected in Camlihemsin healthcare center during the period from July 2005 to January 2007. Türkiye Parazitoloji Dergisi 31:142–144

    Google Scholar 

  26. Alyousefi NA, Mahdy MAK, Mahmud R, Lim YAL (2011) Factors associated with high prevalence of intestinal protozoan infections among patients in Sana’a city, Yemen. PLoS ONE 6(7):e22044. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0022044

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  27. Pham Duc P, Nguyen-Viet H, Hattendorf J, Zinsstag J, Cam DP, Odermatt P (2011) Risk factors for Entamoeba histolytica infection in an agricultural community in Hanam province, Vietnam. Parasit Vectors 4:102. https://doi.org/10.1186/1756-3305-4-102

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Al-Harthi AS, Jamjoom BM (2007) Enteroparasitic occurrence in stools from residents in Southwestern region of Saudi Arabia before and during Umrah season. Med J 28(3):386–389

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Microbiology and Immunology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Damanhour University, El Gomhoreya Street, Damanhour, El Behira, Egypt

    Rania Abozahra, Moustafa Mokhles & Kholoud Baraka

Authors
  1. Rania Abozahra
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Moustafa Mokhles
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Kholoud Baraka
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kholoud Baraka.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of Interest

We declare that we do not have any conflict of interest.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Abozahra, R., Mokhles, M. & Baraka, K. Prevalence and Molecular Differentiation of Entamoeba histolytica, Entamoeba dispar, Entamoeba moshkovskii, and Entamoeba hartmanni in Egypt. Acta Parasit. 65, 929–935 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11686-020-00241-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11686-020-00241-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation