A novel nested multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for differential detection of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Entamoeba histolytica</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">E. moshkovskii</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">E. dispar</Emphasis> DNA in stool samples

Background  

E. histolytica, a pathogenic amoeba, is indistinguishable in its cyst and trophozoite stages from those of non-pathogenic E. moshkovskii and E. dispar by light microscopy. We have developed a nested multiplex PCR targeting a 16S-like rRNA gene for differential detection of all the three morphologically similar forms of E. histolytica, E. moshkovskii and E. dispar simultaneously in stool samples.