A note on the prothrombin time abnormality in the patients with amebic liver abscess

Amebic liver abscess is reported worldwide and can present with a a wide spectrum of clinical manifetations. Similar to the other liver diseases, the prothrombin time abnormality can be seen in the patients with amebic liver abscess. We retrospectively studied the prothrombin times among 30 Thai hospitalized patients with amebic liver abscesses and did not find any correlation between the prothrombin time and any other studied manifestatio

Discrimination of Entamoeba spp. in children with dysentery

Aim: The present study was performed in order to differentiate E. histolytica and E. dispar in children from Gorgan city, using a PCR method. Background: Differential detection of two morphologically indistinguishable protozoan parasites Entamoeba histolytica and E. dispar has a great clinical and epidemiological importance because of potential invasive pathogenic E. histolytica and non-invasive parasite E. dispar. Patients and methods: One hundred and five dysentery samples were collected from children hospitalized in Taleghani hospital in Gorgan city. The fecal specimens were examined by light microscopy (10X then 40X) to distinguish Entamoeba complex. A single round PCR amplifying partial small-subunit rRNA gene was performed on positive microscopy samples to differentiate E. histolytica/ E. dispar and E. moshkovskii from each other. Results: Twenty-five specimens (23.8%) were positive for Enramoeba complex in direct microscopic examination. PCR using positive controls indicated E. histolytica and E. dispar in two (2/25, 8%) and three (3/25, 12%) samples, respectively. Conclusion: There is a warrant to performing molecular diagnosis for stool examination at least in hospitalized children in order to prevent incorrect reports from laboratories and consequently mistreating by physicians. © 2014 RIGLD, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases

Raising an “Amoeba Army” to Fight a Deadly Intestinal Parasite

Senior biology and chemistry major Joshua Leitao investigates amebiasis via American Society of Microbiology research fellowship

Definitions in ontologies

Definitions vary according to context of use and target audience. They must be made relevant for each context to fulfill their cognitive and linguistic goals. This involves adapting their logical structure, type of content, and form to each context of use. We examine from these perspectives the case of definitions in ontologies

Antiamoebic Properties of the Actinomycete Metabolites Echinomycin A and Tirandamycin A

Entamoeba histolytica infects 50 million people per year, causing 100,000 deaths worldwide. The primary treatment for amoebiasis is metronidazole. However, increased pathogen resistance combined with the drug’s toxic side effects encourages a search for alternative therapeutic agents. Secondary metabolites from marine bacteria are a promising resource for antiprotozoan drug discovery. In this study, extracts from a collection of marine-derived actinomycetes were screened for antiamoebic properties, and the activities of antibiotics echinomycin A and tirandamycin A are shown. Both antibiotics inhibited the in vitro growth of a E. histolytica laboratory strain (HM-1:IMSS) and a clinical isolate (Colombia, Col) at 30- to 60-μM concentrations. EIC50 (estimated inhibitory concentration) values were comparable for both antibiotics (44.3–46.3 μM) against the E. histolytica clinical isolate

Discrimination and Aggregative Patterns among and between populations of Entamoeba spp.

Kin recognition facilitates the evolution of cooperation in animals, but its relevance in microorganisms and their behavior toward relatives remains unclear. The Entamoeba lineage constitutes an ideal model to determine the behavioral and signaling cues needed for aggregative preference. Chemical cues have been reported for E. histolytica but not E. dispar, suggesting cell-communication between con-specifics and behavioral differences with relevance for disease. Entamoeba varieties have been reported as ‘morphologically undistinguishable’. Two strains of E. invadens have been isolated from different hosts (VK-1: NS - Varanus komodoensis and IP1- serpentes) but were classified within the same ‘species’. Trophozoites of each strain aggregate only with members of their own variety, suggesting they are able to associate based on behavioral and chemical communication. Adaptations to different environments and horizontal gene exchange could have influenced diversification of each lineage. Measurable aggregation and behavioral cues in fluorescence micrographs of Entamoeba varieties suggest that these characteristics should be included in phylogenetic studies

Genital manifestations of tropical diseases

Genital symptoms in tropical countries and among returned travellers can arise from a variety of bacterial, protozoal, and helminthic infections which are not usually sexually transmitted. The symptoms may mimic classic sexually transmitted infections (STIs) by producing ulceration (for example, amoebiasis, leishmaniasis), wart-like lesions (schistosomiasis), or lesions of the upper genital tract (epididymo-orchitis caused by tuberculosis, leprosy, and brucellosis; salpingitis as a result of tuberculosis, amoebiasis, and schistosomiasis). A variety of other genital symptoms less suggestive of STI are also seen in tropical countries. These include hydrocele (seen with filariasis), which can be no less stigmatising than STI, haemospermia (seen with schistosomiasis), and hypogonadism (which may occur in lepromatous leprosy). This article deals in turn with genital manifestations of filariasis, schistosomiasis, amoebiasis, leishmaniasis, tuberculosis and leprosy and gives clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment

Intestinal Amebiasis: Diagnosis and Management

Intestinal amebiasis is an infection due to Entamoeba Histolytica and has the highest prevalence in tropical countries, including Indonesia. Amebiasis is responsible for approximately 70,000 deaths annually every year. High prevalence is found especially in endemic area which had poor hygiene and sanitation or crowded population. Human is the main reservoir, while the disease can be transmited by mechanical vector such as cokckroach and flies. Making diagnosis of intestinal amebiasis sometimes can be a problem. Clinical presentation and disease severity may be varied. Complication due to late management of the disease can be fatal. Lifestyle education, early diagnosis and proper management of amebiasis are very important measures to promote by health workers