Journal of
Parasitology and Vector Biology

  • Abbreviation: J. Parasitol. Vector Biol.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 2141-2510
  • DOI: 10.5897/JPVB
  • Start Year: 2009
  • Published Articles: 204

Full Length Research Paper

Molecular differentiation of Entamoeba Spp. isolated from Cameroonian human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected and uninfected patient

Pechangou Nsangou Sylvain
  • Pechangou Nsangou Sylvain
  • Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Department of Biochemistry, University of Yaounde I, Cameroon. 2Department of Medical Parasitology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh-160012, India.
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Upninder Kaur
  • Upninder Kaur
  • Department of Medical Parasitology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh-160012, India.
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Kapil Goyal
  • Kapil Goyal
  • Department of Medical Parasitology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh-160012, India.
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Rakesh Sehgal*
  • Rakesh Sehgal*
  • Department of Medical Parasitology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh-160012, India.
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Moundipa Fewou Paul
  • Moundipa Fewou Paul
  • Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Department of Biochemistry, University of Yaounde I, Cameroon.
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  •  Received: 09 May 2015
  •  Accepted: 06 July 2015
  •  Published: 31 August 2015

Abstract

Entamoeba histolytica is an utmost important cause of dysentery. Entamoeba spp. has been frequently reported in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive individuals. Routine microscopic examination of stool sample is a most widely used technique but microscopy alone has low sensitivity and it is insufficient for differentiation among Entamoeba spp. Molecular techniques are newer methods which are currently used for the identification of Entamoeba spp. The present study was planned to differentiate the Entamoeba species by gene sequencing for the confirmation of microscopic findings in stool samples of HIV positive and negative patients of Cameroon. Out of 265 patients diagnosed microscopically for Entamoeba, 90 positive stool samples (28 from HIV patients) were collected and studied for the differentiation of Entamoeba species. DNA was extracted from infested stool samples and used to amplify a part of the genus Entamoeba small-subunit ribosomal RNA gene (SSU rDNA) as well as the serine rich E. histolytica protein gene and chitinase gene. The SSU rDNA were sequenced to identify the other species that could not be done by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and for the differentiation of E. histolytica from Entamoeba dispar and Entamoeba moshkovskii. Sequence analysis identified seven different species of Entamoeba which were related to Entamoeba; E. histolytica (28.7%), E. dispar (25%), E. moshkovskii (10%), Escherichia coli (16.3%), Entamoeba hartmanni (6.2%), Entamoeba polecki (11.3%) and Entamoeba struthionis (7.5%), with the higher prevalence of E. histolytica among HIV infected patients than uninfected individuals. The phylogenetic analysis within the sequences of E. histolytica isolates suggested two distinguishable variants present among Cameroonian HIV patients. There is a possibility that specific genotypes may be more prevalent among HIV positive patients, and molecular diagnosis is important in establishing the correct diagnosis of amoebic dysentery.

 

Key words: Entanoeba spp, HIV/AIDS, gene sequencing, Cameroon.