[A survey of the current status of the differential diagnosis of amoebas in Mexico].

The differential diagnostic criteria for the amebas parasitizing the human colon are described. The results of epidemiological studies carried out published in Mexico are discussed and the results of a survey performed in some hospitals in Mexico City on the current differential diagnosis of these parasites are reported. The findings showed that no carriers of E. hartmanni have been reported in the studies published in Mexico so far. However, no differentiation between E. histolytica and E. hartmanni is made in those hospitals according to the survey results. The possibility that in Mexico E. hartmanni is probably diagnosed as E. histolytica is discussed and as result the prevalence as asymptomatic intestinal amoebiasis is overestimated. The necessity of making the differential diagnosis between these parasites is emphasized.