University of Babylon

College of Dentisry

Entamoeba coli

Supervise by: Dr.Ahmed Almossawi

Prepared by:
Ghadeer Abd Al-Aziz Matar
Group : B1
Introduction :
Entamoeba coli is non-pathogenic species of
Entamoeba that frequently exists as a commensal
parasite in the human gastrointestinal tract.

Entamoeba coli is a species that is present in the gut,

particularly in the large intestine of humans and other
mammals, such as primates and dogs. It is nonpathogenic amebic parasite
and is confused with another species of the same genus Entamoeba
histolytica. The latter though is pathogenic (causing amebic dysentery)
and can be identified by the number of nuclei. Entamoeba coli in
comparison is larger, with more pseudopods and moves sluggishly.1 It
moves not much using its pseudopod but makes a non-progressive
movement. It also has a single, irregularly shaped karyosome and a large,
single nucleus. Its infective stage, the mature cyst, is known to survive
longer than that of Entamoeba histolytica. It can survive for three to four
months outside the host. Entamoeba coli may be confused with
Escherichia coli, which is an opportunist bacterium. That is because both
of them are contracted as E. coli. Thus, Entamoeba coli is sometimes
abbreviated as Ent. Coli and Escherichia coli as Esch. Coli.

Abbreviation / Acronym: E. coli or Ent. coli