Differential detection of Entamoeba histolytica from Entamoeba dispar by parasitological and nested multiplex polymerase chain reaction methods

Introduction: Amebiasis is an intestinal illness caused by a one-celled parasite (amoeba) called Entamoeba (E) histolytica. E histolytica and E dispar are morphologicallyundistinguishable but have genetic and functional differences. E. histolytica is invasive andcause amoebiasis, but E dispar cause an asymptomatic colonization which does not need to bemedically treated. We have performed a nested multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)targeting small subunit rRNA (Ribosomal ribonucleic acid) gene for differential detection of Ehistolytica and E dispar directly from stool samples. Methods: All the fecal samples collected without preservation and were screened for amebiccells by parasitological methods. Fecal samples that containing amebic cells were stored at -20ºC until DNA extraction. DNA extraction was down by using a DNA extraction kit. Thegenus specific primers were designed using nucleotide sequences of 18S-rRNA gene ofEntamoeba. Results: Thirty one (4.28%) stool samples out of 724 samples were positive for E histolytica/E dispar. The nested multiplex PCR illustrated that the size of diagnostic fragments of PCR products was obviously different for two Entamoeba species, the specific product size for Ehistolytica and E dispar was 439 and 174 bp. The nested multiplex PCR was positive in 25 outof 31 stool specimens that 17 (54.8%) samples were positive for E dispar and 8 (25.8%)samples were positive for E histolytica. Conclusion: Nested multiplex PCR was useful for the specific detection of E histolytica and Edispar in stool samples. In current study we detected that E dispar was more prevalent in our study area.