Entamoeba histolytica
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 Entamoeba histolytica cyst
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For the parasitical infection, refer to Amoebiasis.
Entamoeba histolytica is an anaerobic parasitic eukaryote protozoan, part of the genus Entamoeba. It infects predominantly humans and other primates. Diverse mammals such as dogs and cats can become infected but usually do not shed cysts (the environmental survival form of the organism) with their feces, thus do not contribute significantly to transmission. The active (trophozoite) stage exists only in the host and in fresh feces; cysts survive outside the host in water and soils and on foods, especially under moist conditions on the latter. When swallowed they cause infections by excysting (to the trophozoite stage) in the digestive tract.
[edit] External links
- Public domain Entamoeba histolytica article from the Bad Bug Book, from which the original version of this article was adapted
Entamoeba histolytica, as its name suggests, can actually bore through the enteric walls (histolysis = destroying tissue) and reach the blood stream. From there, it can reach different vital organs of the human body, like the liver, lungs, brain, eyes etc. A typical effect is a liver abscess caused by such migrating Entamoeba histolytica, which can be fatal. Ingested red blood cells are sometimes seen in the cytoplasm.
Entamoeba histolytica can lead to Amebiasis or Amebic Dysentary. Symptoms include fulminating dysentary, diarrhea, weight loss, fatigue, abdominal pain, and amebomas.
It can be diagnosed by stool samples. Trophozoites should be seen in a fresh fecal smear and Cysts in an ordianry stool sample. ELISA or RIA can also be used.
