Amoebiasis

Question 1

What is the major cause of amoebiasis?

Answer 1

Entamoeba histolytica

Question 2

What disease syndrome does Entamoeba histolytica cause?

Answer 2

Amoebic dysentry

Question 3

How does Entamoeba histolytica cause prolonged watery diarrhoea with blood?

Answer 3

Invades mucosa of colon

Question 4

How is Entamoeba histolytica spread?

Answer 4

Faecal-oral

Question 5

What are some possible sequelae of infection with Entamoeba histolytica?

Answer 5

Extra-intestinal infection (esp liver, brain abscess)

Question 6

Is Entamoeba histolytica found in Australia?

Answer 6

Yes: endemic in some parts of Northern Aus

Question 7

How is infection with Entamoeba histolytica diagnosed?

Answer 7

Wet mount to look for faecal cysts
Serology
Abscess by X-ray (usually no organism in drainage)

Question 8

How is infection with Entamoeba histolytica treated?

Answer 8

Metronidazole + paromomycin

Drainage of abscess

Question 9

How is Entamoeba histolytica controlled?

Answer 9

Sewage and water treatment

Question 10

What kind of immunity is produced against Entamoeba histolytica?

Answer 10

No strong long term immunity: re-infection is common