Amoebiasis, an enteric protozoan disease caused by Entamoeba histolytica, is a public health problem in many developing countries. Intestinal amoebiasis may produce symptoms such as colitis and dysentery; while extraintestinal amoebiasis commonly results in amoebic liver abscess (ALA). The commercial antigen detection tests for intestinal infection vary in their sensitivities and specificities; most of them use native parasite antigen extract which have specificity issues. Thus this study was aimed at improving the laboratory diagnosis of ALA and intestinal amoebiasis. Previously, pyruvate phosphate dikinase (PPDK) had been identified as a marker for detection of extraintestinal amoebiasis, thus the recombinant form of the protein (rPPDK) was used in this study to develop a rapid antibody dipstick test for ALA. Search for new anti-amoebic agents is important due to the side-effects of metronidazole and reports of resistance against it. PPDK is involved in a key pathway in the energy me.....

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Entamoeba infection is still widespread in Malaysia’s rural area particularly among Orang Asli communities which usually associated with poverty and lack of sanitation. Due to scarce information on these Entamoeba infections in Slim River, Perak we conducted this study to investigate the prevalence and associated risk factors towards this infection. A total of 55 stool samples from voluntary participants with and without symptoms of amoebiasis were collected and examined using PCR technique. PCR analysis showed 16.4% stool samples were detected positive for Entamoeba spp., discriminated as 7.3% that were positive for E. histolytica and 9.1% for E. dispar. No E. moshkovskii was detected at all. Factors such as indiscriminate defecation, improper sewage disposal and not washing hand after playing with soil or gardening showed significant association with E. histolytica infection; while gastrointestinal symptom such as vomiting was associated with E. dispar infection. In conclusion, the.....

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