Amoebas

Synonym(s)

Furniture for fame

History
This section has been translated automatically.

Löch, 1875; Osler, 1890; Councilman and Lafleur, 1891; Walker and Sellards, 1913; Brumpt, 1925; Diamond and Clark, 1993

Definition
This section has been translated automatically.

Single-celled parasites ( protozoa) of the genus Entamoeba. They do not have a solid form. Their locomotion and food intake is via cell plasma protuberances (pseudopodia), reproduction is by cell division.

You might also be interested in

Allergology

Ccl24

Chemokines, a subgroup of cytokines, are small (size between 8 and 10 kDa), chemotactically active proteins...

Advertisment

Pathogen
This section has been translated automatically.

Apathogenic amoebae: apathogenic Entamoeba histolytica (new name Entamoeba dispar), Entamoeba moshkovskii, Entamoeba coli, Entamoeba hartmanni, Endolimax nana, Jodamoeba bütschlii, Dientamoeba fragilis (taxonomically belonging to the trichomonads), rare: Entamoeba chattoni (monkeys), Entamoeba polecki (pig).
Pathogenic amoebae: Entamoeba histolytica.
Route of infection: Faecal-oral uptake of cysts with contaminated food; release of smaller, vegetative forms, so-called minuta forms (trophozoites) from cysts in the intestine. Trophozoites multiply by division and form cysts, which are excreted with the stool in a mature, quadrenuclear state. When trophozoites penetrate the intestinal wall and phagocytise erythrocytes, they become so-called magnaforms.

Occurrence/Epidemiology
This section has been translated automatically.

Predominantly in warm countries with low hygienic standards, autochthonous infections in temperate zones are very rare (e.g. sluice-workers), occurrence in male homosexuals (oral-anal contacts, rectal lavage).

Diagnosis
This section has been translated automatically.

S.u. amoebiasis.

Therapy
This section has been translated automatically.

S.u. amoebiasis.

Note(s)
This section has been translated automatically.

The initial description of the pathogens has been made under many partial aspects:

Fedor Löch (1875): First description of dysentery and amoebae as a triggering agent.
William Osler (1890): first case description of diarrhoea with accompanying liver abscess.
Councilman and Lafleur (1891): confirmation of the connection between amoebae as a cause of diarrhoea and liver abscesses.
Walker and Sellards (1913): Proof of the pathogenicity of Entamoeba histolytica by enteral administration of cysts to volunteers.
Brumpt (1925): Presumption of the existence of invasive and non-invasive forms of amoebae.
Diamond and Clark (1993): biochemical, immunological and genetic differentiation of pathogenic and non-pathogenic amoebae.
WHO (1997): official confirmation of the classification.