Identificación molecular de Entamoeba histolytica, E. dispar y E. moshkovskii en niños con diarrea de Maracaibo, Venezuela

Introduction: Entamoeba histolytica is the amebiasis-producing parasite, however; Entamoeba dispar, Entamoeba moshkovskii and Entamoeba bangladeshi are non-pathogenic amoebae, morphologically identical to this one, so molecular techniques are needed for their differentiation. Objective: To identify the frequency of Entamoeba species by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), in fecal samples from children under 5 years of age with diarrhea, from Maracaibo, Venezuela. Materials and methods: A fecal sample was collected per individual from 75 children with diarrhea (case group) and 25 children without diarrhea (control group). Stools were evaluated by microscopic examination, formol-ether concentration method and nested-multiplex PCR in a single round, for the identification of E. histolytica, E. dispar and E. moshkovskii. In addition, a survey was conducted in which demographic data, signs, clinical manifestations, and socioeconomic status were defined. Results: 48% of the children (38 from the case group and 10 from the control group) had intestinal parasites. Only 4 children presented cysts of the Entamoeba complex in their samples, (3 from case group and 1 control group). By means of PCR 9 samples (9%) amplified for the studied amoebae. In the case group: 3 (28.13%) for E. histolytica, 4 (30.50%) for E. dispar and 1 (9.37%) for E. moshkovskii; while only 1 (25%) sample amplified for E. dispar in the control group. Conclusion: In general, E. dispar predominated; however, all those infected with E. histolytica were detected within the group of children with diarrhea and the first case of E. moshkovskii was detected in the region.