[Autochthonous amebic liver abscess in Spain: an emerging disease? Case report and description of a PCR-based diagnostic test].

INTRODUCTION: In Spain an increase in cases of amebiasis has been detected in patients with no history of traveling to, or immigration from, endemic areas.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study describes two new cases of amebic hepatic abscess due to native protozoa and reviews 21 more cases of amebic hepatic abscess reported in Spanish patients who had never left the Iberian Peninsula. In addition, a new PCR-based technique for diagnosing Entamoeba histolytica is described.

RESULTS: Twenty cases (87%) occurred in men. The age range of the affected patients was 26 to 77 years. Two of the 3 women with extraintestinal amebiasis were HIV-positive. There was no history of exposure to the parasite in 17 cases. In the remaining 6 cases, direct contact with patients affected with amebiasis or with individuals or foods from endemic areas was recorded.

CONCLUSION: Entamoeba histolytica infection is becoming an emerging disease in our country. Amebiasis should be included in the differential diagnosis of consistent clinical entities even when there is no background of traveling or immigration. New molecular diagnostic tools can help to characterize this infection and should be considered reference techniques in combination with serological methods.