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The diagnostic implications of the separation ofEntamoeba histolytica andEntamoeba dispar

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Abstract

For much of the last hundred years most cases of amoebiasis have been diagnosed by light microscopy. Only relatively recently have we become aware that this technique is usually incapable of distinguishing between two species-Entamoeba histolytica andE. dispar-only the first of which is a pathogen. The implications of this for patient management and, even more, for the validity of epidemiological surveys, are only slowly being addressed. What is clear is that methods are urgently required to distinguish between infections with these two species and this review attempts to summarise some of those, which have been developed to meet this need.

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  1. Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, WC1E 7HT, London, UK

    J. Packers

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Packers, J. The diagnostic implications of the separation ofEntamoeba histolytica andEntamoeba dispar . J Biosci 27, 573–578 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02704850

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