Comparison of antigen-capture ELISA to stool-culture methods for the detection of asymptomatic Entamoeba species infection in Kafer Daoud, Egypt

We performed a prospective field study in the village of Kafer Daoud in Men ofia, Egypt to compare the fecal culture method with enzyme linked immune a ssay (ELISA) for detection of 170 kDa lectin antigen in feces for diagnosis of asymptomatic Entamoeba histolytica and Entamoeba dispar infection. All subjects with E. histolytica or E, dispar infection detected by culture als o had positive ELISA for amebic antigen in their feces and an additional 57 Entameoba infections missed by culture were detected by ELISA (P < 0.001 c ompared to culture). The presence of fecal anti-lectin IgA antibodies and s erum anti-LC3 (recombinant cysteine-rich lectin protein) IgG antibodies wer e positive predictors for E. histolytica infection (P < 0.03). Of interest, infection with Trichomonas hominis but not Blastocystis hominis was positi vely associated with E. histolytica infection (P < 0.05). in conclusion, EL ISA for detection of fecal lectin antigen is a more sensitive method than f ecal culture for detecting asymptomatic E. histolytica infection.