AMEBIASIS

Question 1

What kind of pathogen is Amebiasis?

Answer 1

Protozoan

Question 2

What is a strain of Amebiasis?

Answer 2

Entamoeba histolytica

Question 3

Where is Entamoeba histolytica most common?

Answer 3

Developing countries

Question 4

How is Entamoeba histolytica transmitted?

Answer 4

Fecal contamination of soil and water

Question 5

Who is at greater risk for Entamoeba histolytica infection?

Answer 5

-Travelers
-immigrants
-Men who have sex with men (oral transmission of fecal matter)

Question 6

What is the presentation of an Entamoeba histolytica infection?

Answer 6

-Mostly asymptomatic
If symptomatic:
-GI collitis
-Dysentery (bloody diarrhea)

If invasive extraintestinal: liver abscess most common
(can also be in lung, cardiac, cerebral, renal, GU, peritoneal, and cutaneous sites)

Question 7

How can an Entamoeba histolytica infection be diagnosed?

Answer 7

-Serology (blood)
-Antigens on PCR
-Colonoscopy (FLASK SHAPED ULCERS)
-Aspiration from the abscess (will look like ANCHOVY PASTE)

Question 8

How can an Entamoeba histolytica infection be treated?

Answer 8

Intestinal: iodoquinol, paromycin

Extraintestinal: Metronidazole, Tinidazole, and then iodoquinol, paromycin