Entamoeba histolytica: Morphology, Life cycle, Pathogenesis, Lab Diagno

Entamoeba histolytica: Introduction, Morphology, Life cycle, Pathogenesis, Lab Diagnosis and Treatment

Introduction of Entamoeba histolytica

Entamoeba histolytica is an invasive enteric protozoan parasite that is the cause of amebiasis. It derives its name from its ability to lyse virtually every tissue in the human body and in the bodies of experimental animals.

Habitat of Entamoeba histolytica

Trophozoites of Entamoeba histolytica resides in the mucosa and submucosa of the large intestine of man.

Morphology of Entamoeba histolytica

Entamoeba histolytica exists in 3 morphological forms

Trophozoite
Pre-cyst
Cyst – uninucleate, binucleate, and quadrinucleate

Trophozoite
It is the growing or feeding stage.
The only form is present in the tissue.
It usually appears only in diarrheic feces and survives only for few hours.
It exhibits slow gliding movement with pseudopodium and having a shape that is not fixed due to constantly changing position. Its size is 10-60μm (20-30μm avg.).
Pre cystic stage
Smaller in size (10-20μm in diameter)
Oval with blunt pseudo podium projecting from the periphery
Endoplasm is free of ingested RBC and other food particles.
The nucleus is relatively large but retains the characteristic of trophozoite.

Cyst
It may be uninucleate, binucleate, and quadrinucleate.
Mature cyst- quadrinucleate with spherical shape
Size – a. small – 6-9μm
b. large – 12-15μm
Cyst begins as uninucleate body soon divides by binary fission and develops into binucleate and quadrinucleate.

Life cycle of Entamoeba histolytica

Entamoeba histolytica passes life cycle in only one host i.e. Man
2 phases of development-trophozoite and cyst with the transitory stage of pre cystic phase
Infective form- mature cyst (Quadrinucleate cyst)

Mode of infection – faeco-oral route
Site of localization– large intestine (caecum)

Pathogenesis of Entamoeba histolytica

Infective stage- mature quadrinucleate cyst
The reservoir of infection- human
Mode of infection- faeco-oral route
1. fecal contamination of drinking water, vegetables, and food
2. eating of uncooked vegetables and fruit which have been fertilized with infected human feces
3. handling of food by infected individuals (cyst passers or cyst carriers)
Incubation period– 4-5 days
Pathogenic lesion-
a. primary or intestinal – infection is entirely limited to LI
b. secondary or extraintestinal or metastatic lesion

Intestinal ulcer
Site – lesions may be
a. Generalized-whole length of LI up to internal sphincter is involved
b. Localized
Ileocecal region- commonest site
Sigmoido-rectal region
Shape – flask-shaped ulcer
Ulcers maybe
a. superficial-up to muscularis mucosa
b. deep- into the submucous layer-

Extraintestinal lesion
Almost always precede by intestinal amoebiasis whether symptomatic or asymptomatic
Due to the migration of trophozoites from the ulcer site

Clinical manifestation

Amoebic colitis
Gradual in onset, with symptoms presenting over 1-2 weeks
Patients typically present with cramping abdominal pain, watery or bloody diarrhea, and weight loss or anorexia.
Fever
May mimic acute appendicitis.

Fulminant amoebic colitis
It is a rare complication of amoebic dysentery (< 0.5% of cases).
Presents with the rapid onset of severe bloody diarrhea, severe abdominal pain, and evidence of peritonitis and fever.
Predisposing factors include poor nutrition, pregnancy, corticosteroid use, and very young age (< 2 years).
Intestinal perforation is common.

Chronic amoebic colitis

It is clinically similar to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
There are recurrent episodes of bloody diarrhea and vague abdominal discomfort.

Amebomas

It is a less common form of intestinal disease, arises from the formation of annular colonic granulation in response to the infecting organisms, which results in a large local lesion of the bowel.

Amoebic peritonitis
It is generally secondary to a ruptured liver abscess. Patients present with fever and a rigid distended abdomen. Amoebic appendicitis in countries of high prevalence, amoebiasis occasionally presents as acute appendicitis.

Laboratory diagnosis of Entamoeba histolytica

It is divided into two parts. One is a diagnosis of intestinal amoebiasis whereas another diagnosis of extra intestinal amoebiasis.
Lab Diagnosis of Intestinal amoebiasis
Specimen: fresh stool, colonoscopic biopsy, or scraping from the margin of the lesion
macroscopic examination of stool
microscopic examination

culture – done in asymptomatic case
antigen detection
antibody detection
PCR

Microscopic Examination
Method: wet mount preparation with Normal saline and iodine
permanent stain- trichrome stain, iron, and hematoxylin stain
Stool leukocytes may be found, but in fewer numbers than in shigellosis
trophozoites that contain ingested red blood cells (RBCs) – is diagnostic of E. histolytica infection
Examination of a single stool sample has a sensitivity of only 33-50%; however, examination of 3 stool samples over no more than 10 days can improve the detection rate to 85-95%.

Culture
It is common in following media like

NIH medium
Boeck and Drbohlav’s medium
Robinsons medium
Diamonds medium

Antigen detection
Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is used to detect antigens from E. histolytica in stool samples.
Antibody detection
Methods-ELISA, latex agglutination test, Indirect hemagglutination, indirect fluorescent assay, RIA, and CCIE.

Diagnosis of extraintestinal amoebiasis

Demonstration of trophozoite in aspirate taken from a different site
Blood examination
Antibody detection
Molecular test- PCR, DNA probe
Intradermal test
Radiological examination- chest X-ray, USG, CT scan, MRI

Blood tests
Leukocytosis-15,000-30,000/cu mm (>75% neutrophils)
Elevated alkaline phosphatase level and SGOT level.
Mildly elevated bilirubin level

Treatment of Entamoeba histolytica

Tissue amebicides
intestinal wall, liver, and other metastatic lesions: emetine, dehydroemetine-parenteral
Liver and lungs only: 4-aminoquinolone ( chloroquine)
Luminal amebicides
Direct-acting:
i) halogenated hydroxyquinolones-diodoquin, clioquinol
ii) Dichloroacetamide group- diloxanide (entamide)
iii) Antibiotics-paromomycin ( brand name humatin -oral)
b. Indirect acting-tetracycline
Both luminal and tissue amebicides: oral Metronidazole, tinidazole, nitroimidazole

Prophylaxis of Entamoeba histolytica

Personal prophylaxis:
Use of boiled drinking water
Protection of food and drink from flies, cockroaches, and rats
Not eating raw vegetables and fruits
Personal cleanliness and elementary hygiene

Community prophylaxis:
Effective sanitary disposal of feces
Protection of water supplies from fecal contamination
Avoidance of the use of human excrement as fertilizer
Detection and isolation of carriers

About amoebic versus bacillary dysentery, click on this title.

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