First report of Entamoeba moshkovskii in human stool samples from symptomatic and asymptomatic participants in Kenya

Abstract

<i>Entamoeba moshkovskii</i> is a member of the <i>Entamoeba</i> complex and a colonizer of the human gut. We used nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to differentiate <i>Entamoeba</i> species in stool samples that had previously been screened by microscopy. Forty-six samples were tested, 23 of which had previously been identified as <i>Entamoeba</i> complex positive by microscopy. Of the 46 specimens tested, we identified nine (19.5%) as <i>E. moshkovskii-</i>positive. In seven of these nine <i>E. moshkovskii</i>-positive samples, either <i>E. dispar</i> or <i>E. histolytica</i> (or both) were also identified, suggesting that co-infections may be common. <i>E. moshkovskii</i> was also detected in both symptomatic and asymptomatic participants. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of <i>E. moshkovskii</i> in Kenya.