MicroRNAs expression of patients infected with Entamoeba histolytica in association with Entamoeba dispar isolated from liquid stool

Ann Parasitol. 2021;67(4):805-812. doi: 10.17420/ap6704.399.

Abstract

Amoebic dysentery is a parasitic intestinal infection that causes diarrhea containing blood or mucus. A total of 100 amoebic stool samples were collected from patients attending Azadi Hospital in Kirkuk City, Iraq during the period from 1st December 2020 to 15th June 2021. The results showed that out of 100 samples of amoebic infected patients, 88 (88%) were infected with E. histolytica, while 12 (12%) were infected with E. dispar. There was a nonsignificant difference between males 46 (46.0%) and females 42 (42%) among E. histolytica infected patients, and between males 7 (7%) and females 5 (5%) among E. dispar infected patients. According to age groups, the majority of the samples 39 (39%) were reported at the age group 15-44 years, while the lower number 14 (14%) was recorded in the age group 1-4 years. The results of distribution of Entamoeba stages showed that the distribution rate of E. histolytica trophozoite stage was 25 (92.6%), E. histolytica cyst stage was 49 (86%) and both of trophozoite + cyst stages was 14 (87.5%), while the distribution rate of E. dispar trophozoite stage was 2 (7.4%), cyst 8 (14%) and the trophozoite + cyst stages was 2 (7.4%), with a highly significant difference (P=0.002). The count of RBCs per field for each Entamoeba cell showed that the RBCs were found only in E. histolytica infection, while they were not found in E. dispar infection with a highly significant difference (P<0.01). Results of observing bacterial activity under microscope showed that there was no relationship between Entamoeba infections and bacterial infections (P>0.05). Out of 60 stool samples from amoebic patients, 17 (28.3%) were positive for microRNA-21 of E. histolytica with a mean of (8.30±13.34), while 0 (0.00%) of E. dispar showed a mean of (1.51±1.91), (P=0.005). Out of 60 stool sample from amoebic patients, 27 (45.0%) were positive for microRNA-22 of E. histolytica with a mean of (44.31±61.43), while 0 (0.00%) of E. dispar showed the mean (1.43±3.33), (P=0.005).

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Antigens, Protozoan
  • Child, Preschool
  • Diarrhea
  • Entamoeba histolytica* / genetics
  • Entamoeba* / genetics
  • Feces / parasitology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • MicroRNAs*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Antigens, Protozoan
  • MIRN22 microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs