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Amebiasis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 June 2016

A.F. Widmer  and
M.D. Nettleman
A.F. Widmer
Affiliation:
Department of Internal Medicine, The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa
M.D. Nettleman*
Affiliation:
Department of Internal Medicine, The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa
*
C41GH, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA 52242
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Extract

Amebiasis is an infection of the large intestine produced by the protozoan Entamoeba kistolytica. The disease occurs worldwide but is most prevalent in South and West Africa, Southeast Asia, Mexico, and the western part of Latin America.' More than 10% of the world's population is estimated to be infected. E kistolytica is the third leading parasitic cause of death in developing nations, after malaria and schistosomiasis. In the United States, the prevalence has declined from 5% to 10% in 1960 to approximately 1% to 4% currently. However, amebiasis is one of the most important pathogens to which travelers to endemic countries are exposed.

Other groups also are at higher risk of acquiring E kistolytica infection. Sixteen percent to 32% of homosexual men have been found to have E kistolytica in stool specimens. E kistolytica also has been reported as an occupational disease in flight personnel working for commercial airlines.” Because humans are virtually the exclusive reservoir of E kistolytica, appropriate control measures could result in a substantial reduction in the incidence of the disease.

Entamoeba has seven species including Entamoeba hartmanni, Entamoeba coli, Entamoeba colecki, and Entamoeba gingivalis; only E kistolytica causes disease in humans. The morphologic classification of Entamoeba is based on the number of nuclei in the mature cyst.' E kistolytica is further characterized by its unique antigens, DNA characteristics, and isoenzyme analyses. In contrast to the free-living amoeba, E kistolytica requires the presence of either bacteria or tissue substrates to satisfy its nutritional needs. It can be cultivated on artificial media, but the diagnostic value of culture remains uncertain.

Type
Emporiatrics
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 12 , Issue 12 , December 1991 , pp. 735 - 739
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 1991

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