Prevalence and distribution of Entamoeba species in a rural community in northern South Africa.

Amoebiasis occurs worldwide and affects about 20-50 million people annually. Stool samples were collected from patients attending different rural clinics in Northern South Africa in the present study. Microscopic examination was performed for the initial detection of parasites. A multiplex PCR protocol based on the small subunit rRNA gene of , , and , was used for the differential detection of the three species (collectively referred to as complex). A total of 170 participants were recruited in the study, with a mean age of 35.9 ± 17.8 years and a median of 37.0 years. The prevalence of species was found to be 34.7% and 33% by PCR and microscopy, respectively. had a prevalence of 4.1%, 14.7% and 15.9%. Of the three species, only was significantly associated with diarrhoea and was more prevalent among HIV patients even in the absence of diarrhoea while the other two were not, although the difference was not significant ( > 0.05). This is the first study in South Africa to describe the prevalence of . was significantly associated with abdominal pains ( = 0.003). Further studies are needed to clarify the role of and in abdominal pain and diarrhoea.