Frequency of amoebiasis and other intestinal parasitoses in a settlement in Ilhéus City, State of Bahia, Brazil

• Published in: Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical
• Main Authors: Helena Lúcia Carneiro Santos, Luci Ana Fernandes Martins, Regina Helena Saramago Peralta, José Mauro Peralta, Heloisa Werneck de Macedo
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT) 2014
• Subjects: Intestinal parasites; Laboratory diagnosis; Amoebiasis; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1590/0037-8682-0078-2012; https://doaj.org/article/212996d0c95a4480b96c76a9ab5c57a2

Introduction: This study evaluated the frequency of intestinal parasites, emphasizing the identification and differentiation of Entamoeba spp. Methods: Multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR), coproantigen tests and morphometric analysis were performed for Entamoeba spp. differentiation. Results: The overall frequency of intestinal parasites was 65%. Entamoeba histolytica was detected by the coproantigen test, and the PCR showed that Entamoeba dispar predominated in the population. In contrast, morphometric analysis was important for identifying Entamoeba hartmanni. Conclusions: It is possible to identify the causative agent of amoebiasis and to differentiate this agent from other species by combining techniques.