Entamoeba histolytica

Question 1

host

Answer 1

humans (non zoonotic)

Question 2

morphology

Answer 2

cysts in stool, trophozoites in RBC’s

Question 3

transmission

Answer 3

ingestion of cysts (oral-fecal)

Question 4

diagnosis

Answer 4

cysts in stool, trophozoites in RBC’s, ELISA, ultrasound guided aspiration, X-ray, CT, MRI for brain and lung abscesses

Question 5

symptoms

Answer 5

intestinal (amoebic dysentery) - blood and mucus in stool, gradual onset diarrhea, flatulence, abdom pain, <12x/day
95% asymptomatic

invasive (amoebic liver abscesses) - cysts trapped in mesenteric veins, tear drop ulcers in gut, abscesses may form in liver, brain, skin, lungs, orbit, spleen, genitals, fever, tender liver, hepatomegaly

Question 6

treatment

Answer 6

metronidazole (flagyl) and paromomycin (humatin)

for abscesses - US guided drainage of larger cysts