Methods for the Investigation of Diversity in Entamoeba histolytica

The ability to distinguish variants of a species has many potential applications. In Entamoeba histolytica the first method to detect variation was based on isoenzyme analysis. However, this approach has been superseded by DNA-based analysis. In this review I discuss the basis of the variation detected in E. histolytica by the various molecular methods that have been published to date. Information on diversity in other species is mentioned where such information exists.