Entamoeba histolytica

# Overview
Entamoeba histolytica is a an anaerobic parasitic protozoan that is responsible for the development of amoebiasis.

# Higher Order Classification
Cellular organisms; Eukaryota; Protista; Amoebozoa; Archamoebae; Entamoeba

# Natural Reservoir
- Usually humans (only)
- Reports of animals as natural reservoirs of E. histolytica have been described.

# Structure and Genome
- The exact number of chromosomes in E. histolytica is still unknown.
- The cysts of E. histolytica contain 4 nuclei with even distribution of chromatin between the nuclei.
- The trophozoites are spherical/oval shaped with a thin cell membrane and a single nucleus.
- E. histolytica is able to move using pseudopods.

# Life Cycle
- Cysts and trophozoites are passed in human feces. Cysts are typically found in formed stool, whereas trophozoites are typically found in diarrheal stool.
- Infection by Entamoeba histolytica occurs by ingestion of mature cysts in fecally contaminated food, water, or hands.
- Excystation occurs in the small intestine and trophozoites are released, which migrate to the large intestine.
- The trophozoites multiply by binary fission and produce cysts, and both stages are passed in the feces.
- Because of the protection conferred by their walls, the cysts can survive days to weeks in the external environment and are responsible for transmission.
- Trophozoites passed in the stool are rapidly destroyed once outside the body, and if ingested would not survive exposure to the gastric environment.
- In many cases, the trophozoites remain confined to the intestinal lumen (A: noninvasive infection) of individuals who are asymptomatic carriers, passing cysts in their stool.
- In some patients the trophozoites invade the intestinal mucosa (B: intestinal disease), or, through the bloodstream, extraintestinal sites such as the liver, brain, and lungs (C: extraintestinal disease), with resultant pathologic manifestations.
- It has been established that the invasive and noninvasive forms represent two separate species, respectively E. histolytica and E. dispar. These two species are morphologically indistinguishable unless E. histolytica is observed with ingested red blood cells (erythrophagocystosis).
- Transmission can also occur through exposure to fecal matter during sexual contact (in which case not only cysts, but also trophozoites could prove infective).

# Microbiological Characteristics

# Differential diagnosis
Entamoeba histolytica must be differentiated from other causes of viral, bacterial, and parasitic gastroentritis.
8Small bowel diarrhea: watery, voluminous with less than 5 WBC/high power field
Large bowel diarrhea: Mucousy and/or bloody with less volume and more than 10 WBC/high power field
 It could be as high as 1000 based on patient's immunity system.
The table below summarizes the findings that differentiate inflammatory causes of chronic diarrhea

# Gallery
- Entamoeba histolytica. From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). 
- Entamoeba histolytica. From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). 
- Entamoeba histolytica. From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). 
- Entamoeba histolytica. From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). 
- Entamoeba histolytica. From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). 
- Entamoeba histolytica. From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). 
- Entamoeba histolytica. From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). 
- Entamoeba histolytica. From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). 
- Entamoeba histolytica. From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). 
- Entamoeba histolytica. From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). 
- Entamoeba histolytica. From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). 
- Entamoeba histolytica. From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). 
- Entamoeba histolytica. From Public Health Image Library (PHIL).