ENTAMOEBA

SPP.
E. hartmanni
E. coli
E. polecki
E. Gingivalis

Balasta, Darwin C.
Scientific Classification
 Domain: Eukaryota
 Phylum: Amoebazoa
 Class: Archamoeba
 Genus: Entamoeba
 Species: E. hartmanni, E. coli, E. Polecki,
E. gingivalis
Life Cycle of E. hartmanni, E. coli,
E. polecki
Like E. histolytica it under go successive stages:


trophozoite, precyst, cyst, metacyst and

 1. Both cysts and trophozoites of these
metacystic trophozoite. species are passed in stool and
considered diagnostic 
 1. Cysts are typically found in formed stool,
whereas trophozoites are typically found
in diarrheal stool.  The trophozoites
multiply by binary fission and produce
cysts, and both stages are passed in the
feces. Colonization of the nonpathogenic
amebae occurs after ingestion of mature
cysts in fecally-contaminated food,
water, or fomites . 
 3. Excystation occurs in the small intestine  
 1. and trophozoites are released, which
migrate to the large intestine. 
 **Because of the protection conferred by their cell
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
Entamoeba hartmanni
 E. hartmanni is a non-pathogenic
amoeba with world wide
distribution. Its life cycle is
similar to that of E.
histolytica but it does not have
an invasive stage and does not
ingest red blood cells.
 It has now attained general
acceptance as the name for the
amoeba formerly designated as
“small race” E. histolytica. the
confusion surrounding the
relationship between the two forms
is based on their morphologic
Morphology
Trophozoite:


 usually measure 5-15 µm. 
 Possess a single nucleus that contains a small,
compact centrally. 
 Nuclei are usually not visible in unstained specimens. 
 The cytoplasm is finely granular. 
 Movement in living trophozoites is described as
nonprogressive.


Cyst:


 Similar to  E. histolytica but smaller, measuring 5-

10 µm. 
 Mature cysts contain four nuclei that possess a small,
discrete centrally-located karyosome and evenly-
distributed peripheral chromatin. 
 Cysts may not be visible in unstained specimens. 
 The cytoplasm in mature cysts may contain diffuse
glycogen and rounded or elongated chromatoid
 Host:
 human
 Mode of transmission:
 Ingestion of fecal contaminated food and water sources
 Infective stage:
 cyst
 Diagnostic stage:
 identification is made by observing cysts and/or trophozoites in stool
specimens, both concentrated wet mounts and permanent stained
smears.
 Habitat:
 Intestine (colon)
 Epidemiology:
 Worldwide, primarily human-to-human transmission.


Entamoeba coli
 Entamoeba coli is a non-
pathogenic amoeba with world
wide distribution. Its life cycle
is similar to that of E.
histolytica but it does not have
an invasive stage and does not
ingest red blood cells.
 E. coli is a non pathogenic ameba
that very closely resembles E.
histolytica; the two species may be
confused, leading either to
superfluous treatment for non
pathogenic parasite or to omission
of appropriate theraphy for
pathogen
Morphology
*Entamoeba coli is the only species in the genus
encountered in humans with more than four nuclei in the
cyst stage. 

Trophozoite


 usually measure 15 to 50 µm. 

 possess a single nucleus with a characteristically large, eccentric
karyosome and coarse, irregular peripheral chromatin. 
 The cytoplasm is usually coarsely granular and vacuolated (often
described as "dirty" cytoplasm). 
 Pseudopodia may be seen, and are often short and blunt.
 movement in living trophozoites is nondirection/sluggish.
Cyst


 usually spherical, but may be elongated, and measure 10 to 35 µm. 

 Mature cysts typically have 8 nuclei but may have as many as 16 or
more.  
 The nuclei may be seen in unstained as well as stained specimens. 
 Karyosomes may be compact or diffuse, and are usually eccentrically
located. 
 Peripheral chromatin is present and is often coarse and granular, and
irregularly arranged along the nuclear membrane, but may be more
uniform. 
 Host:
 human
 Mode of transmission:
 ingestion of fecal contaminated food and water source
 Infective stage:
 cyst
 Diagnostic stage:
 identification is made by observing cysts and/or trophozoites in stool
specimens, both concentrated wet mounts and permanent stained
smears.  
 Habitat:
 intestine (colon)
 Epidemiology:
 Worldwide, primarily human-to-human transmission


Entamoeba polecki


 First reported as an
intestinal parasite of
pigs and monkeys, E.
polecki has been found
occasionally in humans.
In parts of Papua New
Guinea, it is apparently
the most common
intestinal ameba of
Morphology
Trophozoite


 often rounded, measuring 10 to 25 µm. 

 The single nucleus is often distorted and irregularly-shaped, with
a small to minute centrally-located karyosome. 
 Peripheral chromatin is usually delicate and uniform.  The
cytoplasm is often vacuolated with a hyaline border.  Blunt
pseudopodia may be seen.
Cyst


 measure 9 to 25 µm and are usually uninucleate, but

binucleate forms are seen rarely. 
 The nucleus is often large, measuring up to one-third of the
diameter of the cyst. 
 The karyosome is pleomorphic, and may be minute to large and
compact to diffuse, and centrally or eccentrically-located. 
 Peripheral chromatin may be light to heavy but is usually evenly
distributed. 
 contain an inclusion mass of variable size and numerous
chromatoid bodies, which may be small and round to large
 Host:
 pig, monkey, and sometimes human.
 Mode of transmission:
 Pig-to-human transmission is the most likely route of human
infection
 Human-to-human transmission exists where the prevalence of
infection is high
 Infective stage:
 cyst
 Diagnostic stage:
  identification is made by observing cysts and/or trophozoites
in stool specimens, both concentrated wet mounts and
permanent stained smears.
 Habitat:
 Intestine (colon)
Epidemiology
 Although Entamoeba Polecki is rarely found in humans,
it has a widespread and relatively unpredictable
epidemiology. The disease is much more common in
rural regions than urban areas. Most commonly,
Entamoeba polecki is associated with Papua New
Guinea, where a study estimated that the prevalence
was as high as 19 percent of the population. This is
not surprising given the economy and culture of this
country where pigs play a key role and many pigs are
even allowed to live in residences. There are three
other countries in which E. polecki is endemic,
including Cambodia, Venezuela, and Vietnam.
Additionally, E. polecki infections have been reported
in Southeast Asian refugees living in other locations,
namely France, Minnesota, and Venezuela.
 Entamoeba Polecki was first identified in 1912 in
Czechoslovakia by Von Prowazek in the stool samples
of two students from Kampuchea.
Pathogenicity
 Few cases of E. polecki infection have been
followed for any length of time. One
human case for about 3 years without any
indication of disease. A few reports
describe patients with diarrhea apparently
caused by infection with this parasite.
Some doubt is cast on the validity of this
species by isoenzyme studies of a number
of isolates showing the morphologic
characteristic of E. polecki. In every case,
the isoenzyme pattern fell within one or
another of what are now recognized as E.
dispar groupings.
Entamoeba gingivalis


 Bearing a close morphologic

resemblance to E. histolytica.
E. gingivalis is often found in
pyorrheal pockets between
the teeth and gums and in
tonsillar crypts. It has been
reported to multiply in
brochial mucus and to appear
in the sputum, where it might
be mistaken for E.
histolyticafrom a pulmunary
Morphology


 There is no known cyst stage for Entamoeba

gingivalis
 Measure 10-20 µm. 

 Possess a single nucleus that contains a small,

centrally-located karyosome and fine peripheral
chromatin. 
 The cytoplasm often contains ingested
leukocytes, bacteria and other debris, very
rarely red blood cells. 
 The trophozoites also possess pseudopodia; living
specimens can move quickly.  
**Entamoeba gingivalis normally lives in the gingival

pockets near the base of the teeth in the human

mouth, and may be coughed up in sputum
specimens.  As such, it is important to differentiate
this species from E. histolytica, which may be found
Life Cycle of Entamoeba
gingivalis
 A There is no known cyst stage
for Entamoeba gingivalis;
trophozoites live in the oral
cavity of humans, residing in the
gingival pockets near the base of
the teeth .  They are not
considered pathogenic, and feed
on bacteria and other debris. 
 1 Trophozoites are transmitted
person-to-person orally by
kissing or fomites (such as
eating utensils) . 
 **The trophozoite stage of E.
gingivalis is morphologically
similar to that of E. histolytica,
and the two should be
differentiated, as both can be
coughed up in sputum
specimens (for the latter, when
present in pulmonary
abscesses).**
Entamoeba gingivalis
 Host:
 mostly human
 Mode of transmission:
 E. gingivalis is transmitted either directly kissing or indirectly contanct via trophozoite-
contaminated food, chewing gum, toothpicks and so on.
 Infective stage:
 Trophozoite
 Diagnostic stage:
 Identification of E. gingivalis is made by the finding of trophozoites in scrapings of the gums
and teeth.
 Habitat:
 abounds in people with unhealthy oral condition (i.e. gingivitis, periodontitis), a cause and
effect relationship has not been established.
 Entamoeba gingivalis normally lives in the gingival pockets near the base of the teeth in the
human mouth, and may be coughed up in sputum specimens.
 Epidemiology:
 Worldwide, primarily human-to-human transmission


Treatment
 As these six species are generally considered
nonpathogenic, there are currently no treatment
recommendations for them.
 In rare occasion E. polecki is reported by some to
cause disease
 Entamoeba Polecki has been successfully treated
with the use of three antiparasitic drugs.
Metronidazole, Ornidazole, and Furamide
have been proven effective, though
Metronidazole is the most common and
debatably most effective. This drug is effective
at a dosage of 750mg three times a day for 5, 7,
or 10 days. Ornidazole and Furamide have been
shown to treat the parasite in combination with
Metronidazole, though it is still not known if
these drugs are effective on their own.
Interestingly, all the the commonly employed
Prevention
 Travelers to countries where sanitary
standards are low can reduce their chances
of acquiring amebiasis by:
 Drinking only water that has been bottled in
sanitary conditions or boiled (water-purifying
tablets are ineffective against amoebic
cysts)
 Eating only cooked or peeled vegetables or
fruits
 Protecting food from fly contamination
 Washing hands after defecation and before
preparing or eating food
THANK YOU!!
XP