Amoebic Antibodies, Serum

E. histolytica is a pathogen or invasive parasite, whereas E. dispar and E. moshkovskii are non-pathogenic and non-invasive parasites that are identical morphologically to E. histolytica. There are at least eight amoebas, E. histolytica, E. dispar, E. moshkovskii, E. coli, E. hartmanni, E. polecki, Iodamoeba butschlii, and Endolimax nana, which live in the human intestinal lumen. Apart from E. histolytica, they are all considered commensal organisms. Clinically, E. histolytica is a cause of colitis and liver abscess but E. dispar is not. The incubation period of intestinal amoebiasis can vary, ranging from a few days to months or years, but is generally 1 to 4 weeks. Infection ranges from asymptomatic to transient intestinal inflammation to fulminant colitis with an array of manifestations that may include toxic megacolon and peritonitis.

Interpretation of amoebiasis is very difficult because of the identical morphology of the non-invasive species (E. dispar) and the invasive species (E. histolytica). Many E. dispar infections are most probably misdiagnosed as E. histolytica infections if diagnosed based on morphology alone. Serum antibodies to E. histolytica can be detected in 75 to 85% of patients with symptomatic E. histolytica infection. Serum IgG antibodies are detected within 1 week after the onset of symptoms of patients with amoebic colitis and amoebic liver abscess.

1 ml Serum Room Temperature

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