Determination of taxonomic status of pathogenic and nonpathogenic Entamoeba histolytica zymodemes using isoenzyme analysis.

Entamoeba histolytica infection results in either asymptomatic colonization or invasion of host tissues leading generally to clinical symptoms. Zymodemes studies have demonstrated a correlation between isoenzyme profiles and clinical presentation. Thus, strains have been attributed to pathogenic or nonpathogenic groups according to their zymodeme. To determine the taxonomic relationship of these two groups, the isoenzyme profiles of 14 loci of 38 E. histolytica strains (pathogenic and nonpathogenic) and seven strains of other species of the same genus were analyzed. Genetic distance analysis clearly demonstrates the existence of two separate groups within the species E. histolytica.