In Japan, amebiasis is domestically transmitted by two major populations: male homosexuals and mentally handicapped persons, which is remarkably different from most other developed countries where Entamoeba dispar infection is predominantly observed. Here we briefly summarize epidemiology of amebiasis in Japan. We also review our current understanding of the diversity of Entamoeba histolytica c...

Entamoeba histolytica infection is the third-greatest parasitic disease responsible for death in the world. Amoebic infections result either in a harmless colonization of the intestine, or in an amoebiosis with invasion and damage of the intestine, liver, lung, and brain. These distinct manifestations are due to the existence of Entamoeba histolytica alone or with Entamoeba dispar as a complex ...

The purpose of the study was to obtain more reliable epidemiological data concerning Entamoeba (E.) histolytica infection in Tunisian food handlers using established molecular tools able to differentiate E. histolytica from E. dispar. From 2002 to 2005, 4,266 fresh stools specimens received in the setting of the National program of food handlers' control were analysed by optical microscopy. Twe...

Specimen 1 Organisms Referees Frequency Ext 1 Ext 2 571 Ascaris lumbricoides 18 Moderate to Many 15 49 545 Entamoeba coli 10 Moderate to Many 4 16 589 Schistosoma mansoni 6 Few to moderate 3 11 524 Parasite(s) found referred for ID 10 580 Trichuris trichiura 3 Few to moderate 6 544 Endolimax nana 2 2 574 Hookworm 1 546 Entamoeba hartmanni 1 548 Entamoeba histolytica / Entamoeba dispar 1 566 Hym...

Sequences corresponding to some of the polymorphic loci previously reported from Entamoeba histolytica have been detected in Entamoeba dispar. Comparison of nucleotide sequences of two loci between E. dispar strain SAW760 and E. histolytica strain HM-1:IMSS revealed significant differences in both repeat and flanking regions. The tandem repeat units varied not only in sequence but also in numbe...

To correlate a particular state of immunity with Entamoeba spp., we used colorimetric PCR to differentiate E. histolytica from E. dispar in individuals with amoebiasis and to associate its presence with the clinical profile, including humoral and cellular immune responses to E. histolytica. Our results showed high levels of antibody in acute amoebiasis and elevation of IL-4 production, a cytoki...

Entamoeba histolytica cells, the cause of amoebic dysentery, are highly motile, and this motility is an essential feature of the pathogenesis and morbidity of amoebiasis. However, the control of E. histolytica motility within the gut and during invasion is poorly understood. We have used an improved chemotaxis assay to identify the key extracellular signals mediating Entamoeba chemotaxis. The d...