Diagnosis of amoebiasis by passive-hemagglutination test

ABSTRACT

Passive hemagglutination test (HA) was done on serum obtained from humans infected with E. histolytica and uninfected normal individuals. Of 34 infected individuals, 29 or 85.29 were positive by the test while 3 of 30 uninfected controls or 9.99 were positive indicating the test to be adequately sensitive and specific for the diagnosis of amoebiasis. It is probably of greater value in establishing diagnosis of extra-intestinal amoebiasis like hepatic abscesses. Limited observations made in this study support the current opinion that E. histolytica complex is composed of strains that vary from non-pathogenic commensals to highly invasive or pathogenic strains which further indicate the need for serologic tests. (Author)