Evaluation of microscopy and PCR for detection of <i>Dientamoeba fragilis</i> :Mona Mohamed Tolba, Amal Farahat Allam, Safia Saleh Khalil, Wagdy Makram Elshouki, Amel Youssef Shehab, Tropical Parasitology

ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Year : 2022 | Volume : 12 | Issue : 2 | Page : 87--93

Evaluation of microscopy and PCR for detection of Dientamoeba fragilis

Mona Mohamed Tolba¹, Amal Farahat Allam¹, Safia Saleh Khalil¹, Wagdy Makram Elshouki², Amel Youssef Shehab¹
¹ Department of Parasitology, Medical Research Institute, University of Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt
² Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt

Correspondence Address:
Amel Youssef Shehab
Department of Parasitology, Medical Research Institute, 165 El Horreya Avenue, El Hadara, Alexandria
Egypt

Introduction: Dientamoeba fragilis (D. fragilis) diagnosis is an intestinal protozoan parasite globally found in rural and urban areas and is attracting a growing interest. Its prevalence in stool varies from 0.2% to more than 19% depending upon the population studied. Materials and Methods: This study was based on the examination of 100 stool samples of randomly referred cases in a rural area in Motobus district, Kafr El-Sheikh governorate, Egypt. Our aim was to investigate the presence of D. fragilis in stool of the examined individuals using conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) compared to wet mount and trichrome stain with confirmation of infection by transmission electron microscopy. Results: D. fragilis was detected in 13/100 of the stool samples examined using wet mount smears, while trichrome stain detected 17/100. Conventional PCR diagnosed 41 cases of D. fragilis in the studied group. A very good agreement was found between wet mount and trichrome stain for diagnosing D. fragilis, while there was fair agreement between conventional PCR and both microscopy methods. Transmission electron microscope was performed on pooled positive samples that revealed the internal structures of D. fragilis trophozoite with its characteristic nucleus. Conclusions: PCR technique was superior to microscopy for the detection of D. fragilis. Trichrome stain remains vital for microscopic diagnosis.

How to cite this article:
Tolba MM, Allam AF, Khalil SS, Elshouki WM, Shehab AY. Evaluation of microscopy and PCR for detection of Dientamoeba fragilis.Trop Parasitol 2022;12:87-93

How to cite this URL:
Tolba MM, Allam AF, Khalil SS, Elshouki WM, Shehab AY. Evaluation of microscopy and PCR for detection of Dientamoeba fragilis. Trop Parasitol [serial online] 2022 [cited 2023 Mar 22 ];12:87-93
Available from: https://www.tropicalparasitology.org/article.asp?issn=2229-5070;year=2022;volume=12;issue=2;spage=87;epage=93;aulast=Tolba;type=0