Abstract
Amoebiasis occurs worldwide and affects about 20–50 million people annually. Stool samples were collected from patients attending different rural clinics in Northern South Africa in the present study. Microscopic examination was performed for the initial detection of Entamoeba parasites. A multiplex PCR protocol based on the small subunit rRNA gene of E. moshkovskii, E. dispar, and E. histolytica, was used for the differential detection of the three Entamoeba species (collectively referred to as Entamoeba complex). A total of 170 participants were recruited in the study, with a mean age of 35.9 ± 17.8 years and a median of 37.0 years. The prevalence of Entamoeba species was found to be 34.7% and 33% by PCR and microscopy, respectively. E. histolytica had a prevalence of 4.1%, E. dispar 14.7% and E. moshkovskii 15.9%. Of the three species, only E. histolytica was significantly associated with diarrhoea and was more prevalent among HIV patients even in the absence of diarrhoea while the other two were not, although the difference was not significant (p > 0.05). This is the first study in South Africa to describe the prevalence of E. moshkovskii. E. dispar was significantly associated with abdominal pains (p = 0.003). Further studies are needed to clarify the role of E. moshkovskii and E. dispar in abdominal pain and diarrhoea.
Highlights
Amoebiasis is a common public health problem in developing countries and is caused by Entamoeba histolytica
In Iran, molecular studies showed that E. dispar was the predominant species especially in the central and northern areas of the country and that infection with E. moshkovskii may be common among Iranians while amoebiasis due to E. histolytica appear to be a rare infection in that country (Hooshyar et al, 2012)
The present study indicated a high prevalence of E. moshkovskii compared to E. dispar and E. histolytica in stool samples from Mopani and Vhembe Districts in the Limpopo Province, South Africa (Samie et al, 2006)
Summary
Amoebiasis is a common public health problem in developing countries and is caused by Entamoeba histolytica. With the occurrence of two other non-pathogenic species of Entamoeba namely E. dispar (W.H.O., 1997) and E. moshkovskii (Ali et al, 2003), the pathogenic E. histolytica is often inaccurately reported or diagnosed. Identified recently as a cause of infection in humans, E. moshkovskii endemicity is yet to be evaluated in many parts of the globe. Several studies have been conducted to determine its prevalence in human communities in. In Iran, molecular studies showed that E. dispar was the predominant species especially in the central and northern areas of the country and that infection with E. moshkovskii may be common among Iranians while amoebiasis due to E. histolytica appear to be a rare infection in that country (Hooshyar et al, 2012)
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