Genetic characterization of Entamoeba dispar isolates in Northeast Brazil

The genetic variability of Entamoeba dispar strains was investigated in 39 positive isolates on a survey of 1783 individuals from two different cities of Northeast Brazil (Recife and Macaparana) using two polymorphic species-specific loci (loci 1–2 and 5–6). A combinatory clustering analysis revealed no geographical correlation and remarkable genetic polymorphism among all the isolates examined. Nevertheless, a comparison of the frequency of eight individual PCR products, shared by both Recife and Macaparana populations, for the two loci, showed that only one product of locus 5–6 was significantly different between the two cities. These results suggested that the Macaparana population is infected by similar strains and that locus 5–6 shows potential in assaying questions related to the molecular epidemiology of this region.