Serologic study of amebiasis in diabetes

ABSTRACT

The antibody response or ameobiasis, using the indirect haemagglutination test, was studied in diabetes with [n=25] and without [n=14] active amoebiasis [positive stools for Entamoeba histolytica cysts] in relation to gastrointestinal diabetic complications. Antibody response to E. histolytica was assessed using the indirect haemagglutination test. Invasive amoebiasis [titre 1/32] was encountered in 66.6% of diabetics and in 31.3% of non diabetics [P<0.05]. Non diabetic amoebic patients and the highest antibody response [1/960 +/- 245.5] which was significantly higher than that of diabetic amoebic [1/ 258.6 +/- 109.6; P<0.01], diabetic non amoebic [1/35.4 +/- 11.2; P<0.01] and non diabetic non amoebic [1/13; P<0.01] groups. Diabetic patients with invasive amoebiasis were significantly older, having a longer duration of diabetes and a higher fasting plasma glucose compared to diabetics without invasive titres. There appears to be no influence of the type of diabetes, sex or presence of diabetic complications on the development of invasive amoebiasis in diabetics. Invasive amoebiasis was [84.6%] more than autonomic neuropathy [variation of heart rate with deep breathing] [46.6%] in diabetic patients presenting with bowl habit abnormalities [P<0.01] and in patients with tender hepatomegaly [100%] compared to those without tender hepatomegaly [77.8%, P 0.05]. It can be concluded that the antibody response ot amoebiasis is less brisk and more lasting than normal. Invasive amoebiasis may contribute to the diarrhoea and tender hepatomegaly of diabetics