[Validation in Havana City, Cuba of ENZYMEBA, an immunoassay for detecting Entamoeba histolytica in feces].

Parasitologists from different medical institutions in Havana City carried out the external validation of ENZYMEBA, a diagnostic procedure of intestinal amebiasis developed at the "Pedro Kourí" Institute of Tropical Medicine. To this end, serial faeces specimens from 212 individuals were collected and observed on the microscope (reference test). The ENZYMEBA immunoassay (validation test) was also made. On comparing ENZYMEBA with the microscopic examination, satisfactory indexes of sensitivity and specificity were found. No cross-reactions were detected in faeces specimens, where found other parasites were present, too. Taking into account that only one faeces specimen per patient is enough for the diagnosis of intestinal amebiasis with ENZYMEBA, this procedure may be useful in studies of therapeutical efficacy and prevalence.