| [ Summary ] |
Amebiasis is still a major protozoan disease with high morbidity and mortality rates. It is caused by Entamoeba histolytica. A morphologically indistinguishable Entamoeba dispar is not pathogenic; accordingly, if infection with only E. dispar is confirmed, treatment is not necessary. Recently amebiasis has come to be regarded as a sexually transmitted disease primarily among male homosexuals and also as an infectious disease among institutionalized people. As a clinical entity, amebiasis is classified either as intestinal amebiasis or extraintestinal amebiasis. The former includes amebic dysentery, amebic colitis and post dysenteric ulcerative colitis, whereas the main clinical form of the latter is amebic liver abscesses, often fatal, due to complications, if not treated. Diagnosis can be made by stool examination and serologic procedures, while sandwich ELISA, utilizing monoclonal antibody and PCR, are increasingly employed for diagnosis. Treatment is usually with 5-nitroimidazoles. |