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. 2004 Dec 21:3:27.
doi: 10.1186/1476-0711-3-27.

In vitro activity of antiamoebic drugs against clinical isolates of Entamoeba histolytica and Entamoeba dispar

Devendra Bansal  1 , Rakesh Sehgal, Yogesh Chawla, Ramesh Chander Mahajan, Nancy Malla
Affiliations

In vitro activity of antiamoebic drugs against clinical isolates of Entamoeba histolytica and Entamoeba dispar

Devendra Bansal et al. Ann Clin Microbiol Antimicrob. .

Abstract

Background: Amoebiasis is a major public health problem in tropical and subtropical countries. Although a number of antiamoebic agents are used for its treatment, yet the susceptibility data on clinical isolates of Entamoeba histolytica and Entamoeba dispar are not available. Therefore, the present study was aimed to assess the in vitro susceptibility of clinical isolates of E. histolytica and E. dispar to metronidazole, chloroquine, emetine and tinidazole.

Methods: A total of 45 clinical isolates (15 E. histolytica and 30 E. dispar) were maintained in polyxenic cultures followed by monoxenic cultures. In vitro drug sensitivity (IC50) of clinical isolates and standard reference strain of E. histolytica (HM1: IMSS) was assessed by nitro blue tetrazolium (NBT) reduction assay after exposure to various concentrations of each drug.

Results: The results showed that all clinical isolates had a higher IC50 compared to reference strain to all the four drugs. E. histolytica isolates appeared to be more susceptible [IC50 (microm) 13.2,26.3,31.2 and 12.4] compared to E. dispar isolates [IC50(microm) 15.6,28.9,32.8 and 13.2] and the reference strain of E. histolytica [IC50 (microm) 9.5, 15.5, 29.9 and 10.2] to the metronidazole, chloroquine, emetine and tinidazole respectively.

Conclusions: The results indicate that till date, Entamoeba isolates in India do not seem to be resistant to the commonly used antiamoebic drugs.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Percentage inhibition of E. histolytica (HM1: IMSS) and clinical isolates of E. histolytica and E. dispar by metronidazole
Figure 2
Figure 2
Percentage inhibition of E. histolytica (HM1: IMSS) and clinical isolates of E. histolytica and E. dispar by chloroquine
Figure 3
Figure 3
Percentage inhibition of E. histolytica (HM1: IMSS) and clinical isolates of E. histolytica and E. dispar by emetine
Figure 4
Figure 4
Percentage inhibition of E. histolytica (HM1: IMSS) and clinical isolates of E. histolytica and E. dispar by tinidazole
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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