Amoebiasis in Wild Mammals: Ayesha Ahmed M Phil. Parasitology 1 Semester 2013-Ag-2712

AMOEBIASIS
IN WILD MAMMALS
• Ayesha Ahmed
• M Phil. Parasitology
• 1st Semester
• 2013-ag-2712
AMOEBIASIS
• Amoebiasis (am-e-bye-a-sis), also called amebic

dysentery, is an intestinal illness caused by a
parasite, Entamoeba histolytica.
• This parasite lives in the intestines and produces

eggs (cysts) which are passed from the body in the
stool
AMOEBAE
• Protozoa with no truly
defined shape
• Move and acquire food
through the use of
pseudopodia
• Found in water sources
throughout the world
• Few cause disease
BACKGROUND
o Entamoeba histolytica (Pathogenic) is one of at least six species
of amoebae that infect the intestinal tract of :
 man, nonhuman primates, and occasionally canines and

monkeys.
(Swenson 1993)
o E. histolytica infections are the third most common cause of

parasite induced death in humans
(Martinez-Paloma 1987,1993)
ENTAMOEBA HISTOLYTICA
• Although dogs, cats and primates may be infected, these
infections are rare and unimportant.
• Several species of amebae are found in mammals, but the only

known pathogen is Entamoeba histolytica. People are the
natural host for this species and the usual source of infection for
domestic animals.
• This parasite is primarily a human parasite and is transmitted

from human to human.
• First seen in 1875 but not described until 1903.

CAUSATIVE AGENT:
MODE OF TRANSMISSION:
• Infection occurs as result of ingestion of parasitical cyst.
• Which enters body through the mouth and cause amoebiasis.
• Mammals become infected by ingesting food or water

contaminated with feces containing infective cysts
• Consuming infected food or water
• Contact with infected soil or animal feces
• Handling object which have already been infected or touching

an infected surface.
LIFE CYCLE :
It involves three stages
• Adult Trophozoite
• Pre-cystic or minuta stage
• Cystic stage
Trophozoite stage:
• The Trophozoite or feeding stage lives in the intestinal wall and
dissolve the lining of mucosa by proteolytic (protein digestive)
enzymes. It divides by binary fission. It makes flask shaped
ulcers in the intestinal wall.
Precystic stage
• The pre-cystic stage or minuta form feeds on bacteria and lives as
commensal. They are round and store food material in the form of
glycogen and chromatoid bars. The discharged trophozoite from
the ulcers enters into precystic stage.
• Cystic Stage
• Each pre-cystic stage produces a resistant wall around itself during
unfavourable condition and gives rise to cystic stage.
• They are resistant to desiccation, temperature and chemicals and
are infective stage of entamoeba.
• The cystic stages or cysts from the outer environment are carried
to the alimentary canal of healthy man through contaminated food
and drinks.
LIFE CYCLE
• Three types of amebiasis can result from infection
• Luminal amebiasis
• Least severe form that is asymptomatic • Maintaining clean
water is important
• Invasive amebic dysentery in prevention
• More common form of infection

• Characterized by bloody, mucus-containing stools and pain
• Invasive extraintestinal amebiasis
• Trophozoites carried via the bloodstream throughout the body
CLINICAL FINDINGS :
• Acute amoebic dysentery

• Choronic ameobic dysentry
CLINICAL FINDINGS:
A. Acute amoebic dysentery
 Frequent dysentery with necrotic mucosa and abdominal pain
 Diarrhea, watery and foul-smelling stools often containing blood-

streaked mucus.
 Trophozoites are found in the stool
 Nausea, flatulence and abdominal distension, and tenderness in the

right iliac region over the colon.
B. CHRONIC AMOEBIC DYSENTERY
 Attack of dysentery lasting for several days, usually succeeded by constipation.
 Tenesmus accompanied by the desire to defecate.
 Anorexia, weight loss
 and weakness.
 Liver may be enlarged.
 The stools at first are semi-fluid but soon become watery, blood, and mucoid.
 Vague abdominal distress, flatulence, constipation or irregularity of the bowel.

B. CHRONIC AMOEBIC
DYSENTERY (CONTI.)
 Mild anorexia, constant fatigue and lassitude
 Abdomen lost its elasticity when picked---up between fingers.
 On sigmoidoscopy, scattered ulceration with yellowish and

erythematous border.
 Gangrenous type of stool

B. CHRONIC AMOEBIC
DYSENTERY (CONTI.)
 The organism may invade the Liver, lung and brain where it produces
abscesses that result in liver dysfunction, pneumonitis, and encephalitis
(Extra intestinal lesions)
 Nonclinical intestinal infections with E. coli and E. bovis have been

reported in captive white-tailed deer.
(Kingston 1981)
DIAGNOSIS
• Symptoms, history and epidemiology are the keys to diagnosis
• All enteric protozoans pathogens are detected by microscopic
detection of trophozoites or cyst in fresh fecal samples.
• Suspected E. histolytica cases, repeat examination of at least three
consecutive samples is required to increase detection.
• Serological evaluation
• Indirect hemagglutination (IHA)
• Latex agglutination
• Immunofluorescence
TREATMENT
Drug
Metronidazol Tinidazole Iodoquinol Diloxanide
e furoate
Acts Kills Kills Eradicate Eradicate
on trophozoites trophozoites Luminal- Luminal-
in intestine & in intestine cysts cysts
tissue & tissue
Dose 500-750 mg 600 mg bd 650 mg PO 500 mg PO
PO tid x 5-10 PO x 5 days tid x10days tid x10days
days
REFERENCES:
• https://www.cdc.html.com
• https://www.infovisual.info/storage.com
• Pinilla, Análida Elizabeth, Myriam Consuelo López, and Diego Fernando
Viasus. "History of the Entamoeba histolytica protozoan." Revista médica de
Chile 136.1 (2008): 118-124
• Swenson, R.B. 1993. Protozoal parasites of great apes. In Zoo and wildlife
animal medicine. Vol. 3, Current therapy. Ed. M.E. Fowler. Philadelphia, PA:
W.B. Saunders Co., pp. 353–355
• Martinez-Paloma, A. 1987. The pathogenesis of amoebiasis. Parasitology
Today 3:111–118.
• Parasitic disease of wild animals, second edition.
• Kingston, N. 1981. Protozoan parasites. In Diseases and parasites of white-
tailed deer. Ed. W.R. Davidson, F.A. Hayes, V.F. Nettles, and F.E. Kellogg.
Tallahassee, FL: Tall Timbers Research Station, pp. 193–236
THANK YOU…

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AMOEBIASIS

• Amoebiasis (am-e-bye-a-sis), also called amebic

• This parasite lives in the intestines and produces

 man, nonhuman primates, and occasionally canines and

o E. histolytica infections are the third most common cause of

• Several species of amebae are found in mammals, but the only

• This parasite is primarily a human parasite and is transmitted

• First seen in 1875 but not described until 1903.

• Infection occurs as result of ingestion of parasitical cyst.

• Which enters body through the mouth and cause amoebiasis.

• Mammals become infected by ingesting food or water

• Contact with infected soil or animal feces

• Handling object which have already been infected or touching

• More common form of infection

• Acute amoebic dysentery

A. Acute amoebic dysentery

 Frequent dysentery with necrotic mucosa and abdominal pain

 Diarrhea, watery and foul-smelling stools often containing blood-

 Trophozoites are found in the stool

 Nausea, flatulence and abdominal distension, and tenderness in the

 Tenesmus accompanied by the desire to defecate.

 Anorexia, weight loss

 Liver may be enlarged.

 Vague abdominal distress, flatulence, constipation or irregularity of the bowel.

 Mild anorexia, constant fatigue and lassitude

 Abdomen lost its elasticity when picked---up between fingers.

 On sigmoidoscopy, scattered ulceration with yellowish and

 Gangrenous type of stool

 Nonclinical intestinal infections with E. coli and E. bovis have been

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