Abstract

RIVERO DE RODRIGUEZ, Zulbey. Detection of Entamoeba moshkovskii in Humans: A New Problem in Amoebiasis Diagnosis. Review. Kasmera [online]. 2013, vol.41, n.1, pp.42-49. ISSN 0075-5222.

The genus Entamoeba contains many species, of which six can live in the large intestine of man: Entamoeba histolytica, Entamoeba dispar, Entamoeba moshkovskii, Entamoeba polecki, Entamoeba coli and Entamoeba hartmanni. The first three are morphologically identical, but only E. histolytica is considered pathogenic, producing amibiasis, whereas E. dispar and E. moshkovskii are considered non-pathogenic. Differentiation between these amoebas cannot be made by microscopic examination, which is the most widely used technique for diagnosing amibiasis. To differentiate, molecular biological methods (PCR) or detection of E. histolytica coproantigens by ELISA are the recommended methods. More recently, an increase in the discovery of human cases of parasitism by E. moshkovskii has provoked a major complication, because laboratory tests should discriminate among the three amoebas for a definitive diagnosis. In addition, technical problems remain regarding a rapid, simple and inexpensive method that allows routine laboratories to distinguish between E. histolytica, E. dispar and E. moshkovskii. At present, the recommendation is to report trophozoites and/or cysts morphologically compatible with E. histolytica, as complex Entamoeba or as E. histolytica/dispar/moshkovskii.

Keywords : Entamoeba histolytica; Entamoeba dispar; Entamoeba moshkovskii; diagnosis.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )