ABSTRACT

Background: Reliable detection the etiological agent of amoebic dysentery and extra-intestinal amoebiasis have Public health importance specially in asymptomatic human and animals, Since the acquisition of pet dogs in the recent period has become widespread in our city.

Aim: To give correct perception of infection rate in asymptomatic individuals (human and domestic dogs) for the first aspect and about detection and diagnosis of the pathogenic species of Entamoeba histolytica from another morphologically similar and commensal one using the molecular technique in stool samples of asymptomatic individuals the second aspect.

Methods: During the study period from the beginning of September 2020 to the end of February 2021, a total of 95 stool sample was collected from asymptomatic 71 male and 24 female ages between 20-45 years old also 50 fecal samples of asymptomatic domestic dogs (male) belongs to some patients regardless of the breed were in counter.

Results: Microscopic and molecular diagnosis for E.histolytica was done using traditional wet mount method and Real Time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) employing phospholipase gene respectively. The result highlighted the microscopic diagnosis of cyst stage in 33 asymptomatic patient out of 95 (34.73%) with significant differences P<0.05 between males 22/71(66.66%) and females 11/24 (33.33%). For domestic dogs, 9 out of 50 samples (18%) were detected as positive. On the other hand the molecular diagnosis results showed presence of E.histolytica in 10 sample out of 33 (30.3%) with non significant differences P>0.05 between males 7/22 (31.81%) and females 3/11 (27.27%) while for domestic dogs no positive results were recorded.

Conclusion: The presence of the pathogen E.histolytica in asymptomatic patients. The microscopic examination of stool sample show a possibility of error to differentiate pathogenic E. histolytica from those of morphologically similar non-pathogenic species lead to inaccurate results therefore, the molecular methods must be adopted for diagnosis. Domestic dogs do not pose a risk of transmitting E.histolytica infection but it can transmit other types of pathogens.

Key words: Entamoeba histolytica, Microscopic diagnosis, RT-PCR, Asymptomatic, Domestic dogs