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Distribution of pathogenic zymodemes of Entamoeba histolytica
(Short
Report
Distribution zymodemes histolytica
1
of pathogenic of Entamoeba
Giovanni Di Perri’, Thomas Weinke’, Maurizio Strosselli’ and Peter Sargeaunfl ‘Istituto Di Clinica Delle Malattie Infettive Dell’Universitci Di Pavia, Italy; ‘Department of Medical Parasitology, Koch Institute, Berlin, West Germany; and 3Department of Medical Protozoology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London
Tropical Medicine for isoenzymeanalysis. The 3 amoebicisolateswereall characterizedaspathogenic (SARGEAUNT et al., 1982)and belongedto zymodeme XIX (SARGEAIJNT & WILLIAMS, 1978). Becauseof a raisedlevel of anti-amoebicantibodies, the patientswerefurther investigatedby colonoscopy, which showedin all 3 patients colitis with scattered ulcerations suggestingamoebic colitis. Treatment with metronidazolewasfollowed by prompt recovery and complete resolution of symptoms. Repeated examinationof faecesfailed to reveal the presenceof E. histolytica.
The presenceof zymodemeXIX in 3 different areas deservesattention, as this isoenzymepattern hasso far been reported only from Africa (5 times)andIndia (twice) (SARGEAUNT & WILLIAMS, 1978), and never from the Americas.
remains a problem in the differential diagnosisof diarrhoeain international travellers recently returned from endemic areas. At the Department of Infectious Diseases,University of Pavia(Italy), we recently observed3 Italian maleswho hadtravelled in areasknown to beendemic for amoebiasis.One of thesesubjects?arriving from Ecuador, was admitted to the hospital becauseof bloody diarrhoea.The other 2 individuals, returned respectivelyfrom Brasil and Indonesia,attendedthe outpatient clinic having complainedin the recentpast of mild diarrhoea. E. histolytica wassuccessfullyisolatedfrom faecal material of all 3 patients by cultivation in Pavlova’s modified Jones’smedium. The cultures were subsequently taken to the London Schoolof Hygiene and Infection
with
Entamoeba
histolytica
Robert
Cochrane
Moreover,
it indicates the need
for further investigationsin the areasconcerned. Isoenzymeanalysisthus revealedan unsuspected potentially pathogenic infection in the 2 subjects who complained of mild diarrhoea only, a symptom that could be considered as merely “travellers’ diarrhoea”. References Sargeaunt, P. G. 81 Williams, J. E. (1978). Electrophoretic isoenzyme patterns of Entamoeba histolytia and Entnnweba coli. Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 72, 164-166. Sargeaunt, P. G., Jackson, T. F. H. G. & Sin+, A. E. (1982). Biochemical homogeneity of Entamoeba hiszot’yrica isolates especially those from liver abscess. Lancet, i, 1316. Received 7 December 1987; accepted for publication December 1987
Fund for Leprosy
The closure of the Leprosy Study Centre, Wimpole Street, London, released money which has been used to establish a Fund in memory of the great leprologist, Robert Cochrane. The Fund is administered by the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. It is to be used to finance three travel fellowships per annum, to a maximum value of f1200 to enable leprosy workers to travel for practical training in field work, or in research, or to enable experienced leprologists to travel to provide practical clinical training in a developing country. Further details of the Fund, and application forms, may be obtained from the Honorary Secretaries, Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Manson House, 26 Portland place, London, WIN 4EY.
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Report
Distribution zymodemes histolytica
1
of pathogenic of Entamoeba
Giovanni Di Perri’, Thomas Weinke’, Maurizio Strosselli’ and Peter Sargeaunfl ‘Istituto Di Clinica Delle Malattie Infettive Dell’Universitci Di Pavia, Italy; ‘Department of Medical Parasitology, Koch Institute, Berlin, West Germany; and 3Department of Medical Protozoology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London
Tropical Medicine for isoenzymeanalysis. The 3 amoebicisolateswereall characterizedaspathogenic (SARGEAUNT et al., 1982)and belongedto zymodeme XIX (SARGEAIJNT & WILLIAMS, 1978). Becauseof a raisedlevel of anti-amoebicantibodies, the patientswerefurther investigatedby colonoscopy, which showedin all 3 patients colitis with scattered ulcerations suggestingamoebic colitis. Treatment with metronidazolewasfollowed by prompt recovery and complete resolution of symptoms. Repeated examinationof faecesfailed to reveal the presenceof E. histolytica.
The presenceof zymodemeXIX in 3 different areas deservesattention, as this isoenzymepattern hasso far been reported only from Africa (5 times)andIndia (twice) (SARGEAUNT & WILLIAMS, 1978), and never from the Americas.
remains a problem in the differential diagnosisof diarrhoeain international travellers recently returned from endemic areas. At the Department of Infectious Diseases,University of Pavia(Italy), we recently observed3 Italian maleswho hadtravelled in areasknown to beendemic for amoebiasis.One of thesesubjects?arriving from Ecuador, was admitted to the hospital becauseof bloody diarrhoea.The other 2 individuals, returned respectivelyfrom Brasil and Indonesia,attendedthe outpatient clinic having complainedin the recentpast of mild diarrhoea. E. histolytica wassuccessfullyisolatedfrom faecal material of all 3 patients by cultivation in Pavlova’s modified Jones’smedium. The cultures were subsequently taken to the London Schoolof Hygiene and Infection
with
Entamoeba
histolytica
Robert
Cochrane
Moreover,
it indicates the need
for further investigationsin the areasconcerned. Isoenzymeanalysisthus revealedan unsuspected potentially pathogenic infection in the 2 subjects who complained of mild diarrhoea only, a symptom that could be considered as merely “travellers’ diarrhoea”. References Sargeaunt, P. G. 81 Williams, J. E. (1978). Electrophoretic isoenzyme patterns of Entamoeba histolytia and Entnnweba coli. Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 72, 164-166. Sargeaunt, P. G., Jackson, T. F. H. G. & Sin+, A. E. (1982). Biochemical homogeneity of Entamoeba hiszot’yrica isolates especially those from liver abscess. Lancet, i, 1316. Received 7 December 1987; accepted for publication December 1987
Fund for Leprosy
The closure of the Leprosy Study Centre, Wimpole Street, London, released money which has been used to establish a Fund in memory of the great leprologist, Robert Cochrane. The Fund is administered by the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. It is to be used to finance three travel fellowships per annum, to a maximum value of f1200 to enable leprosy workers to travel for practical training in field work, or in research, or to enable experienced leprologists to travel to provide practical clinical training in a developing country. Further details of the Fund, and application forms, may be obtained from the Honorary Secretaries, Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Manson House, 26 Portland place, London, WIN 4EY.
16