Summary
- Entamoeba histolytica: trophozoites and cysts; faeco-oral transmission
- Morphological identical but non-pathogenic Entamoeba dispar
- Intestinal infection: asymptomatic – colitis – fulminant dysentery – amoeboma.
- Amoebic colitis to be distinguished from bacillary dysentery, balantidiasis, colon cancer, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis
- Liver infection: Liver abscess with fever, liver pain, pus upon aspiration, leukocytosis, positive serology, abnormal ultrasound.
- Liver amoebiasis to be distinguished from pyogenic abscess, cholangitis, cholecystitis
- Occasionally perianal skin ulcers and other extra-intestinal locations
- Treatment with nitro-imidazoles + contact amoebicides
Entamoeba histolytica Life Cycle (courtesy of CDC)