Amebic infections in asymptomatic homosexual men, lack of evidence of invasive disease.

A survey for enteric infections in 140 asymptomatic homosexual men who attended a community clinic revealed a high prevalence of infection with Entamoeba histolytica (27.1 per cent) and Giardia lamblia (15.7 per cent). In contrast, the prevalence of elevated indirect hemagglutination (IHA) titers (greater than or equal to 1:128), which indicate invasive amebiasis, was low (5.7 per cent). Our findings suggest that only a limited amount of invasive amebic disease is occurring in this group of homosexual men.