Abstract
BACKGROUND: Globally, amoebic liver abscess, a common extraintestinal complication of intestinal
amoebiasis. Diagnosis of hepatic amoebiasis is based on the detection of anti-Entamoeba histolytica immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA),
because of its technique's relatively higher sensitivity and specificity (90%).
AIM: The aim of the present study was to determine the seroprevalence of hepatic amoebiasis
in a referral tertiary care hospital in North India.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: The blood samples were tested specifically for anti-E. histolytica IgG antibody using commercially available ELISA kit (RIDASCREEN®
E. histolytica IgG [K1721] kit).
RESULTS: A total of 879 patients (n = 879) were evaluated, of which 78.49% (690/879) were positive for anti-E. histolytica IgG antibody. The seroprevalence rates showed a declining trend from 2010 to 2015
with rates falling from 91.4% to 66.7%. He present a study showed the decreasing trend
of seroprevalence of hepatic amoebiasis from 2010 to 2015.
CONCLUSIONS: This decrease may be attributed to several factors such as increase in awareness,
improved hygienic practices, use of safe drinking water, better socioeconomic condition,
and perhaps early treatment sought for intestinal amoebiasis.
Key words
Hepatic amoebiasis - intestinal amoebiasis - seroprevalence
