A seroepidemiological study of amebiasis in children of low socioeconomic level in Maracaibo, Venezuela.

Sera collected from 606 children of low socioeconomic level attending the University and Children's hospitals in Maracaibo, Venezuela, were screened for serologic evidence of Entamoeba histolytica infection, employing the indirect hemagglutination test. The seropositivity rate was 7.7%. Most of the positive sera showed low titers (1:128-1:256). The overall prevalence of positive reactors increased with age. Stool examinations done on 516 children revealed cysts or trophozoites of E. histolytica in 4.4%.