The present work aimed at studying: the possible association of HLA antigen
s with Entamoeba histolytica/E. dispar asymptomatic infection in a Mexican
mestizo population. A case-control design was selected for evaluation of th
e role of genetic markers in parasite infection. For this purpose the HLA-A
, HLA-B, and HLA-DR profiles of a population of asymptomatic E. histolytica
/E. dispar adult cyst passers (cases) and a corresponding nonparasitized ad
ult group (controls) followed for 12 months were identified. Entamoeba spec
ies were identified through zymodeme patterns and/or amplification of speci
es-specific DNA sequences. A healthy, nonparasitized group of individuals w
as included as a control. Our results show that apparently, no specific HLA
marker is associated with the asymptomatic cyst passers' condition. These
findings have to be added to previous results in which, in contrast to a de
monstrated association between HLA-DR3 and amebic liver abscess in Mexican
mestizo adults and infants, no significant association with amebic rectocol
itis was found.