Examination and separation of zymodemes of Entamoeba histolytica and Entamoeba dispar in the south of Iran

Entamoeba histolytica and Entamoeba dispar can not be differentiated with each other in microscopic examination of stool but isoenzyme electrophoresis is the gold standard technique. Isolated Entamoeba histolytica and Entamoeba dispar from stool samples of patients who referred to clinical laboratories in the south parts of Iran were collected. These samples were cultivated in Robinson's medium and after mass cultivation and separation of their enzymes isoenzyme electrophoresis for four enzymes (Malic Enzyme, Glucose Phosphate Isomerase, Phospho Gluco Mutase, and Hexokinase) was done. A total of 23 positive samples were collected, six samples (16%) were diagnosed as Entamoeba histolytica and 17 samples (74%) as Entamoeba dispar. Zymodemes of Entamoeba histolytica were II and XIV and, zymodemes of Entamoeba dispar were I, XVI, XVII and XVIII. In conclusion, isoenzyme electrophoresis showed that the most reported samples as Entamoeba histolytica were Entamoeba dispar.