Identificação do complexo Entamoeba histolytica/dispar no Brasil: uma revisão integrativa

Abstract

Amoebiasis is an infection caused by the protozoan Entamoeba histolytica, with a high burden of morbidity and mortality worldwide, especially in developing countries. Morphological differentiation by light microscopy between E. histolytica and other nonpathogenic amoebae, such as Entamoeba dispar, is not possible and must be performed by immunological methods or molecular biology tools. This study aimed to analyze the identification of the Entamoeba histolytica/dispar complex in Brazil, as well as the methods used, through an integrative literature review, using the Virtual Health Library, PubMed and Scielo databases, and the words “histolytica” and “dispar” and “Brasil”. A total of 327 articles were initially selected, and after applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 23 were included in this study. The results showed low prevalence rates of E. histolytica compared to E. dispar in Brazil. Immunological tests were the most used and the Northeast region had the highest number of studies. E. histolytica was more detected in the North and Northeast regions of Brazil. Differentiation methods between amoeba species should be employed to provide epidemiological data, diagnosis of the amoeba species and treatment of cases, in order to prevent the transmission of infection to other people.