Molecular detection of Entamoeba histolytica in diarrheic fecal samples from patients attending National Hepatology and Tropical Medicine Research Institute

Authors

Azza Hasan Abbas, Medical Parasitology, Immunology, Microbiology and Molecular Biology Department, National Hepatology and Tropical Medicine Research Institute (NHTMRI), Cairo, EgyptFollow
El Shahat Ahmed ELShahat, Medical Parasitology, Immunology, Microbiology and Molecular Biology Department, National Hepatology and Tropical Medicine Research Institute (NHTMRI), Cairo, Egypt
Heba Mohamed Abdelglil, Community and Occupational Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Al Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt

Abstract

Background: Amoebiasis is a worldwide disease caused by Entamoeba histolytica infection. The true prevalence is unknown due to the difficulty in distinguishing Entamoeba histolytica from non-pathogenic amoebas especially when microscopic diagnosis is performed, to overcome microscopy misidentification. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) assay is necessary as a highly sensitive and specific technique. Objective: To determine the value of Real-Time PCR (RT.PCR) in the diagnosis of Entamoeba histolytica in the stool samples of diarrheic patients attending NHTMI versus microscopy, copro- antigen, and serum antibodies detection techniques. Subjects and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 150 diarrheic patients. Their stool samples were examined macroscopically and microscopically (by direct smear, parasep concentration, and formol-ether methods), by copro-antigen, and by RT.PCR and their blood samples were examined for serum Entamoeba histolytica antibodies by Indirect Hemagglutination (IHA). Results: Through RT. PCR (42%) were positive samples for Entamoeba histolytica, microscopy detected 64.7% positive samples with a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 61.0%, copro-antigen detected 73.3% positive samples with a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 85.1%, while serology detected 38.7% positive samples with sensitivity 92.1% and specificity 100%. Conclusion: The incidence of the true Entamoeba histolytica is lower when specific and sensitive diagnostic methods (RT.PCR/copro-antigen) are used, allowing to differentiate between pathogenic and other non-pathogenic amoebas that help to avoid the unnecessary treatment that relies on misdiagnosis as well as to reduce medical costs and hazards.

Article Type

Original Study

Subject Area

Laboratory Medicine

Recommended Citation

Abbas, Azza Hasan; ELShahat, El Shahat Ahmed; and Abdelglil, Heba Mohamed (2023) "Molecular detection of Entamoeba histolytica in diarrheic fecal samples from patients attending National Hepatology and Tropical Medicine Research Institute," Journal of Medicine in Scientific Research: Vol. 6: Iss. 1, Article 11.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.59299/2537-0928.1033

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