Entamoeba histolytica infection in children and protection from subsequent amebiasis

Infect Immun. 2006 Feb;74(2):904-9. doi: 10.1128/IAI.74.2.904-909.2006.

Abstract

The contribution of amebiasis to the burden of diarrheal disease in children and the degree to which immunity is acquired from natural infection were assessed in a 4-year prospective observational study of 289 preschool children in an urban slum in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Entamoeba histolytica infection was detected at least once in 80%, and repeat infection in 53%, of the children who completed 4 years of observation. Annually there were 0.09 episodes/child of E. histolytica-associated diarrhea and 0.03 episodes/child of E. histolytica-associated dysentery. Fecal immunoglobulin A (IgA) anti-parasite Gal/GalNAc lectin carbohydrate recognition domain (anti-CRD) was detected in 91% (183/202) of the children at least once and was associated with a lower incidence of infection and disease. We concluded that amebiasis was a substantial burden on the overall health of the cohort children. Protection from amebiasis was associated with a stool anti-CRD IgA response. The challenge of producing an effective vaccine will be to improve upon naturally acquired immunity, which does not provide absolute protection from reinfection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Protozoan / analysis
  • Bangladesh / epidemiology
  • Child, Preschool
  • Dysentery, Amebic / epidemiology*
  • Dysentery, Amebic / immunology*
  • Dysentery, Amebic / parasitology
  • Entamoeba histolytica* / immunology
  • Entamoeba histolytica* / isolation & purification
  • Entamoebiasis / epidemiology*
  • Entamoebiasis / immunology*
  • Entamoebiasis / parasitology
  • Feces / parasitology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin A / analysis
  • Incidence
  • Male
  • Poverty
  • Urban Population

Substances

  • Antibodies, Protozoan
  • Immunoglobulin A