Authors : S. Afzalzade, M. Tavalla, R. Nashibi and F. Yousefi
Abstract: Amoebiasis is one of the most important causes of inflammatory diarrhea. Entamoeba histolytica, Entamoeba dispar and Entamoeba moshkovskii are similar morphologically but biochemically and genetically are different. Therefore, differentiation in Entamoeba species is one of the most important challenges in parasitology. In this cross sectional study carried out from May, 2014 to October, 2015, 242 stool samples that showed colitis by microscopic examination and then all specimens evaluated by multiplex-PCR method for the presence of amoeba and to differentiate the Entamoeba species. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 17 and p-<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Using PCR analysis, of the 242 stool samples, 10 (4.1%) samples were identified as E. histolytica 13 (5.4%) were E. dispar and 2 (0.8%) were E. moshkovskii. Abdominal pain in 96% of patients (p<0.001) and nausea and vomiting in 72% of patients (p<0.001) were the most prevalent clinical manifestations in patients with amoebiasis. In this study E.dispar was more prevalent like in other studies. PCR is a gold standard and highly sensitive and specific molecular method for differentiated Entamoeba typing to avoid unnecessary treatment and over diagnosis but since, PCR is technically expensive and not available everywhere, we suggest that PCR method use in patients with abdominal pain and vomiting (The odds ratio of abdominal pain and vomiting in the amoebiasis group were 22.7 and 6.8 times more than in the parasite free group, respectively).
S. Afzalzade, M. Tavalla, R. Nashibi and F. Yousefi, 2020. Entamoeba Typing using Multiplex-PCR and Clinical Features Among Patients with Inflammatory Diarrhea in Khuzestan, Southwest Iran. International Journal of Tropical Medicine, 15: 1-5.