Amebic colitis: New insights into pathogenesis and treatment

Bercu, Tracy E.; Petri, William A.; Behm, Brian W.

doi:10.1007/s11894-007-0054-8

Cited by 103 publications

(87 citation statements)

References 21 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…19 Another important feature of the higher specificity of molecular diagnostics is the ability to distinguish between the non-pathogenic E. dispar and the human pathogen E. histolytica, a parasite that causes 100,000 deaths per year. 20 Our assay could distinguish between the pathogenic and non-pathogenic Entamoebae, enabling pathogen-directed treatment. Our ability to identify Cryptosporidium without relying on another diagnostic approach (such as using the modified acid-fast or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) is also useful.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

A Novel, Multi-Parallel, Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction Approach for Eight Gastrointestinal Parasites Provides Improved Diagnostic Capabilities to Resource-Limited At-Risk Populations

Mejia

Vicuña²,

Broncano³

et al. 2013

The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

232

311

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract. Diagnosis of gastrointestinal parasites has traditionally relied on stool microscopy, which has low diagnostic sensitivity and specificity. We have developed a novel, rapid, high-throughput quantitative multi-parallel real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) platform. Species-specific primers/probes were used for eight common gastrointestinal parasite pathogens: Ascaris lumbricoides, Necator americanus, Ancylostoma duodenale, Giardia lamblia, Cryptosporidium spp., Entamoeba histolytica, Trichuris trichiura, and Strongyloides stercoralis. Stool samples from 400 13-month-old children in rural Ecuador were analyzed and the qPCR was compared with a standard direct wet mount slide for stool microscopy, as were 125 8-14-year-old children before and after anthelmintic treatment. The qPCR showed higher detection rates for all parasites compared with direct microscopy, Ascaris (7.0% versus 5.5%) and for Giardia (31.5% versus 5.8%). Using an enhanced DNA extraction method, we were able to detect T. trichiura DNA. These assays will be useful to refine treatment options for affected populations, ultimately leading to better health outcomes.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

A Novel, Multi-Parallel, Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction Approach for Eight Gastrointestinal Parasites Provides Improved Diagnostic Capabilities to Resource-Limited At-Risk Populations

Mejia

Vicuña²,

Broncano³

et al. 2013

The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

232

311

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…However, these assumptions do not imply that Blastocystis is nonpathogenic since infections with other established enteric protozoan pathogens do not always lead to disease. Most Giardia (approximately 60%) and E. histolytica (approximately 90%) infections are asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic in immunocompetent individuals, and only a minority of infections lead to intestinal disease (26,103,178). Furthermore, a number of asymptomatic E. histolytica carriers may subsequently develop intestinal disease (121), and this may also be true for Blastocystis.…”

Section: Infection and Diseasementioning

confidence: 99%

Extreme anoxia tolerance in embryos of the annual killifishAustrofundulus limnaeus: insights from a metabolomics analysis

Podrabsky

Lopez

Fan

et al. 2007

Journal of Experimental Biology

128

154

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

SUMMARY The annual killifish Austrofundulus limnaeus survives in ephemeral pond habitats by producing drought-tolerant diapausing embryos. These embryos probably experience oxygen deprivation as part of their normal developmental environment. We assessed the anoxia tolerance of A. limnaeus embryos across the duration of embryonic development. Embryos develop a substantial tolerance to anoxia during early development, which peaks during diapause II. This extreme tolerance of anoxia is retained during the first 4 days of post-diapause II development and is then lost. Metabolism during anoxia appears to be supported mainly by production of lactate, with alanine and succinate production contributing to a lesser degree. Anoxic embryos also accumulate large quantities of γ-aminobutyrate (GABA), a potential protector of neural function. It appears that the suite of characters associated with normal development and entry into diapause II in this species prepares the embryos for long-term survival in anoxia even while the embryos are exposed to aerobic conditions. This is the first report of such extreme anoxia tolerance in a vertebrate embryo, and introduces a new model for the study of anoxia tolerance in vertebrates.

show abstract

“…There are more than 50 million people infected with Entamoeba histolytica worldwide with up to 100,000 deaths each year resulting from complications of invasive disease [1,2]. The parasitic infection is distributed globally, with an especially high prevalence in developing countries due to its fecal-oral route of transmission.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Relapse of Intestinal and Hepatic Amebiasis After Treatment

et al. 2010

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Case Presentation and EvolutionSix months after returning from a trip to Hawaii, a previously healthy 63-year-old man presented with 5 months of right upper-quadrant abdominal pain and non-bloody diarrhea, 3 months of nausea and non-bloody vomiting, and 1 month of fevers, chills, night sweats, and anorexia, culminating in a loss of 20 lbs. Comprehensive laboratory tests were notable for leukocytosis with a white blood cell (WBC) count of 11,300/mm 3 with 88% neutrophils, elevated liver chemistry tests (total bilirubin 0.6 mg/dl, aspartate aminotransferase [AST] 64 U/l, alanine aminotransferase [ALT] 92 U/l, and alkaline phosphatase 674 U/l), and renal failure (blood urea nitrogen 57 mg/dl, creatinine 2.3 mg/dl). Due to his renal insufficiency, non-contrast imaging of the abdomen was obtained, which revealed a 12-cm, thick-walled, multiloculated cystic lesion in the right lobe of the liver (Fig. 1a). Cultures obtained from the patient's blood, stool, and fluid aspirated from the liver abscess remained sterile. However, serum antibodies to Entamoeba histolytica were positive at a titer of 1:128.The infection was reported to the Department of Health who corroborated the diagnosis with three other cases of Entamoeba histolytica infection that were traced back to a restaurant worker in Hawaii. The patient was treated with oral metronidazole 750 mg three times daily for 10 days, followed by oral paromomycin 1 g three times daily for 10 days. His abdominal pain and diarrhea resolved. A contrast-enhanced abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan, obtained 2 months after finishing his course of antibiotics, documented complete resolution of the liver abscess (Fig. 1b).One year later, the patient again presented with fevers, chills, fatigue, abdominal pain, and diarrhea for 1 month, but this time also reported melena and maroon-colored stools for 1 week. His abdominal pain originated in the epigastrium, radiated to the right upper quadrant, and worsened when lying on his right side. On retrospection, he noted that he had suffered from diarrhea intermittently since his admission the previous year, but each episode had resolved with loperamide. He denied any weight loss and had actually regained 30 lbs. since discharge. He had not traveled anywhere since returning from Hawaii and could not recall any sick contacts.On physical examination, he had a low-grade fever to 100.2°F, but his vitals were otherwise normal. In general, he was well-appearing and without jaundice. He had normal bowel sounds, but his abdomen was distended and mild tenderness could be elicited upon palpation of the epigastrium, right upper-quadrant and right lower-quadrant of the abdomen. He had heme-positive, black-colored stool on rectal examination.Laboratory testing again revealed leukocytosis (WBC 9,500 with 80% neutrophils) and abnormal liver chemistry tests (total bilirubin \0.5 mg/dl, AST 33 U/l, ALT 39 U/l, and alkaline phosphatase 212 U/l). A contrast-enhanced CT of the abdomen showed a 6.0 9 5.2-cm hypo-attenuating mass in segment 4 of the liver wi...

show abstract

Amebic colitis: New insights into pathogenesis and treatment

Cited by 103 publications

References 21 publications

A Novel, Multi-Parallel, Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction Approach for Eight Gastrointestinal Parasites Provides Improved Diagnostic Capabilities to Resource-Limited At-Risk Populations

A Novel, Multi-Parallel, Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction Approach for Eight Gastrointestinal Parasites Provides Improved Diagnostic Capabilities to Resource-Limited At-Risk Populations

Extreme anoxia tolerance in embryos of the annual killifishAustrofundulus limnaeus: insights from a metabolomics analysis

Relapse of Intestinal and Hepatic Amebiasis After Treatment

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About