[Invasive amebiasis at an institution for the mentally retarded in Shizuoka Prefecture]

Kansenshogaku Zasshi. 1996 Jan;70(1):1-6. doi: 10.11150/kansenshogakuzasshi1970.70.1.
[Article in Japanese]

Abstract

Amebiasis caused by Entamoeba histolytica at an institution for mentally retarded in Shizuoka Prefecture is reported. Five of the 50 patients showed E. histolytica cysts in their stools and 4 were positive serologically. The polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism revealed that the isolates were pathogenic-type E. histolytica. Epidemiological analysis revealed that the amebic infection was caused by the abnormal behavior of mentally retarded patients. Administration of diloxanide furoate and metronidazole for cyst-carriers eliminated cysts from the stool and lowered the antibody titer.

Publication types

  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Entamoeba histolytica / isolation & purification
  • Entamoebiasis / epidemiology*
  • Entamoebiasis / etiology
  • Entamoebiasis / parasitology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Institutionalization
  • Intellectual Disability / complications*
  • Japan / epidemiology
  • Male