HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (4) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by RAMOS, F. Articles by XIMÉNEZ, C. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by RAMOS, F. Articles by XIMÉNEZ, C. Related Collections Amebiasis

HIGH PREVALENCE RATE OF ENTAMOEBA HISTOLYTICA ASYMPTOMATIC INFECTION IN A RURAL MEXICAN COMMUNITY

The frequency of Entamoeba histolytica and Entamoeba dispar infection was analyzed in a rural community in the state of Morelos, Mexico, using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Sociodemographic variables as risk factors for the infection were assessed. Results highlighted the number of individuals with intestinal parasites (43.1%) in the community, indicating extensive fecalism. A high frequency of E. histolytica asymptomatic infection, higher than E. dispar infection (13.8% versus 9.6%), was detected by PCR. Anti-amebic antibody levels (IgG) in serum and saliva (IgA) samples were not associated with E. histolytica intestinal infection. These findings suggest a predominant distribution of E. histolytica strains of low invasive potential in this community.

Received July 27, 2004. Accepted for publication January 15, 2005.

Acknowledgments: The authors would like to thank Mrs. María Elena Ortiz Tadeo and Mr. Marco Gudiño for their secretarial and computer assistance.

Financial support: Financial support was provided by grants DGSPA IN219599, DGAPA IN234202-2, and a 2001 UC MEXUS-CONACYT collaborative grant.

^* Address correspondence to Cecilia Ximénez, Departamento de Medicina Experimental, Facultad de Medicina UNAM, Dr. Balmis 148, Col. Doctores, C.P. 06726, México D.F., México. E-mail: cximenez{at}servidor.unam.mx

Authors’ addresses: Fernando Ramos, Patricia Morán, Enrique González, Gabriela García, Manuel Ramiro, María del Carmen García de León, Emma I Melendro, Alicia Valadez, and Cecilia Ximénez, Departamento de Medicina Experimental, Facultad de Medicina UNAM, Dr. Balmis 148, Col. Doctores, C.P. 06726, México D.F., México. Alejandro Gómez, Coordinación de Investigación en Salud, IMSS, Centro Médico Siglo XXI, Av. Cuauhtemoc 330, Col. Doctores, C.P. 06725, México D.F., México.

Reprint requests: Dra. Cecilia Ximénez, Departamento de Medicina Experimental, Facultad de Medicina, UNAM, Dr. Balmis 148, Col. Doctores, CP 06726, México D.F., México. Telephone: +5255-5623 2666, Fax: +5255-5623 2669, E-mail: cximenez{at}servidor.unam.mx.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				C. Ximenez LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Am J Trop Med Hyg, November 1, 2006; 75(5): 775 - 776. [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Solaymani-Mohammadi, M. Rezaian, Z. Babaei, A. Rajabpour, A. R. Meamar, A. A. Pourbabai, and W. A. Petri Jr. Comparison of a Stool Antigen Detection Kit and PCR for Diagnosis of Entamoeba histolytica and Entamoeba dispar Infections in Asymptomatic Cyst Passers in Iran. J. Clin. Microbiol., June 1, 2006; 44(6): 2258 - 2261. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]