Amoebiasis in northern Nigeria. An evaluation of the gel diffusion test.

Sera from 778 patients presenting a hospitals in Zaria and Kaduna, northern Nigeria, were tested for amoebic precipitins by the gel diffusion test; 106 (14%) were positive. Positive tests were obtained in 16 of 18 patients with an amoebic liver abscess, in 17 of 31 patients with amoebic dysentery and in three of 100 apparently healthy controls. Positive tests, and clinical cases of amoebiasis, were seen more frequently in the wet season than in the dry season.