Abstract
Sir,
Entamoeba histolytica is an intestinal, protozoan parasite endemic to non-industrialised parts of Latin America, Africa and the Indian subcontinent. It causes an estimated 40,000–100,000 deaths each year, primarily from amoebic colitis and amoebic liver abscess (ALA).1 Although morphologically indistinguishable, strains of E. histolytica causing ALA often differ genetically from those causing colitis.2,3 Colonic carriage can also be asymptomatic, as is always the case for other apathogenic species such as E. dispar and E. moshkovskii. Therefore, clinical history of colitis or detection of Entamoeba in stool do not provide reliable clues for the diagnosis of ALA.
Entamoeba histolytica is an intestinal, protozoan parasite endemic to non-industrialised parts of Latin America, Africa and the Indian subcontinent. It causes an estimated 40,000–100,000 deaths each year, primarily from amoebic colitis and amoebic liver abscess (ALA).1 Although morphologically indistinguishable, strains of E. histolytica causing ALA often differ genetically from those causing colitis.2,3 Colonic carriage can also be asymptomatic, as is always the case for other apathogenic species such as E. dispar and E. moshkovskii. Therefore, clinical history of colitis or detection of Entamoeba in stool do not provide reliable clues for the diagnosis of ALA.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 725-727 |
| Number of pages | 3 |
| Journal | Pathology |
| Volume | 52 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Oct 2020 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Correspondence
- Entamoeba histolytica
- intestinal parasites
- amoebic colitis
- amoebic liver abscess (ALA)
- colonic carriage