BACKGROUND Anti-Entamoeba histolytica antibody (anti- E. histolytica) is widely used in seroprevalence studies though its clinical significance has not been assessed previously. METHODS Anti-E. histolytica titer was measured at first visit to our clinic (baseline) in 1303 patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). The time to diagnosis of invasive amebiasis was assess...

We read with great interest the article published by Gunther and others that describes the amebiasis-related mortality among United States residents from 1990 to 2007. Of 134 amebiasis deaths during the study period, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection was a co-existing condition in 14 (10.4%), which was statistically significantly more common than in the control, non-amebiasis group w...

Of 110 subjects with clinical evidence of amebiasis, 15 (14%) were shown to be infected with Entamoeba histolytica. Microscopic examination of stool specimens rendered a diagnosis in all eight cases of localized intestinal infection, but in only one of seven patients with invasive amebiasis. Culture was concomitantly diagnostic in six patients intestinal amebiasis and in one patient with extrai...

BACKGROUND The serology of amebiasis is affected by low sensitivity and specificity. OBJECTIVES To evaluate the advantage of the indirect hemagglutination assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in the diagnosis of amebiasis, using Entamoeba histolytica soluble antigen (macerated amebic antigens) prepared from four different virulent isolates, continuously cultivated in the presence of th...

OBJECTIVE To determine the level of oxygen-nitrogen stress parameters in the pathogenesis of amebiasis. METHODS Twenty-four acute intestinal amebiasis patients and 20 healthy controls were enrolled in the present study. Serum malondialdehyde and nitric oxide levels were determined spectrophotometrically. RESULTS Serum malondialdehyde and nitric oxide levels were significantly higher in acut...

Amebiasis is the third most common parasitic infection worldwide, with around 500 million infections [1] and 100,000 deaths per year [2]. Although asymptomatic in 90% of cases [3], amebiasis may present with intestinal and extraintestinal manifestations. Pleuropulmonary disease is the second most common extraintestinal manifestation after liver abscess. We report herein a case of pleuropulmonar...

Amebiasis is caused by Entamoeba histolytica infection and can produce a broad range of clinical signs, from asymptomatic cases to patients with obvious symptoms. The current epidemiological and clinical statuses of amebiasis make it a serious public health problem worldwide. The Entamoeba life cycle consists of the trophozoite, the causative agent for amebiasis, and the cyst, the form responsi...

Amebiasis is uncommon in developed countries. Several case reports in the literature emphasize that both the presenting symptoms and the radiological findings of colonic amebiasis closely resemble more common conditions, such as idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease and gastro-intestinal malignancy. We describe a unique case of colonic amebiasis (amebomas) coexisting with signet-ring cell carci...