Molecular Diagnosis of Entamoeba histolytica, Entamoeba dispar, and Entamoeba moshkovskii: An Update Review

Amoebiasis is the human infection with Entamoeba species, including E. histolytica, which is the causative agent of amoebic colitis, liver abscess, and rarely brain abscess; E. dispar, which is nonpathogenic; and E. moshkovskii, which causes diarrhea. The redefinition of E. histolytica, the re-description of E. dispar, and the recent results of isolation of E. moshkovskii from patients have dramatically changed the understanding of the prevalence of Entamoeba species in the population specifically in developing countries. These investigations have motivated researchers to develop a new diagnostic tools which are capable of differentiating the three species of morphologically indistinguishable Entamoeba encountered in clinical laboratories.