Article
Frequency and molecular characterisation of Entamoeba histolytica, Entamoeba dispar, Entamoeba moshkovskii, and Entamoeba hartmanni in the context of water scarcity in northeastern Brazil
Registro en:
CALEGAR, Deiviane Aparecida; et al. Frequency and molecular characterisation of Entamoeba histolytica, Entamoeba dispar, Entamoeba moshkovskii, and Entamoeba hartmanni in the context of water scarcity in northeastern Brazil. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz, v.111, n.2, p.114-119, Feb. 2016.
0074-0276
10.1590/0074-02760150383
1678-8080
Autor
Calegar, Deiviane Aparecida
Nunes, Beatriz Coronato
Monteiro, Kerla Joeline Lima
Santos, Jéssica Pereira dos
Toma, Helena Keiko
Gomes, Tais Ferreira
Lima, Marli Maria
Bóia, Márcio Neves
Carvalho-Costa, Filipe Anibal
Resumen
This study aimed to estimate the frequency, associated factors, and molecular characterisation of Entamoeba
histolytica, Entamoeba dispar, Entamoeba moshkovskii, and Entamoeba hartmanni infections. We performed a survey
(n = 213 subjects) to obtain parasitological, sanitation, and sociodemographic data. Faecal samples were processed
through flotation and centrifugation methods. E. histolytica, E. dispar, E. moshkovskii, and E. hartmanni
were identified by nested-polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The overall prevalence of infection was 22/213 (10.3%).
The infection rate among subjects who drink rainwater collected from roofs in tanks was higher than the rate in subjects
who drink desalinated water pumped from wells; similarly, the infection rate among subjects who practice open
defecation was significantly higher than that of subjects with latrines. Out of the 22 samples positive for morphologically
indistinguishable Entamoeba species, the differentiation by PCR was successful for 21. The species distribution
was as follows: 57.1% to E. dispar, 23.8% to E. histolytica, 14.3% to E. histolytica and E. dispar, and 4.8% E. dispar
and E. hartmanni. These data suggest a high prevalence of asymptomatic infection by the group of morphologically
indistinguishable Entamoeba histolytica/dispar/moshkovskii complex and E. hartmanni species. In this context of
water scarcity, the sanitary and socioenvironmental characteristics of the region appear to favour transmission.