Entamoeba dispar strains: analysis of polymorphism in Tunisian isolates.

We analyzed the polymorphic region of the chitinase protein gene in 13 individuals infected with Entamoeba dispar. We identified 7 different chitinase patterns in Tunisians while the 4 isolates from other countries each had a distinct pattern. Two of the patterns we found have been reported in studies from Mexico and India, possibly indicating worldwide spread of certain strains.