AMOEB

A Amoebas are equipped with the ability to

extend their cytoplasm in the form of
pseudopods, which allows them to move within
their environment.
CLASS
LOBOSEA
• The group of amoebas with pseudopodia.

Classification:
a. Intestinal
b. Extraintestinal
 INTESTINA EXTRAINT
L
• Parasites that migrate or take up residence
inside the intestines ESTINAL
• Parasites that migrate or take up residence
outside the intestines

Entamoeba histolytica
Entamoeba hartmanni
Entamoeba gingivalis
Entamoeba coli
Naegleria fowleri
Entamoeba polecki
Acanthamoeba species
Endolimax nana
Iodamoeba butschlii
 STEPS IN
IDENTIFYING
AMOEBA
• Identify the Stage:
a. CYST -infective forms, non-motile, round or oval, refractile, thick walled, possesses more than 1
nucleus
b. TROPHOZOITE - reproducing, feeding form, motile, have irregular shape (with pseudopods) and
usually with one nucleus
TROPHOZO CYSTS
ITE
Feeding/Vegetative Active/Infective

Tissue Invader Non-tissue Invader

Permanent Stain (Iron

Iodine Stain
Hematoxylin/Trichrome)

Motile Non-motile

Watery Feces Formed Feces

Uninucleate Multinucleate
STEPS IN
IDENTIFYING Identify the Genus:
• Entamoeba are true amoeba since they contain peripheral chromatin and

AMOEBA chromatoid bodies

• Peripheral chromatin is a visible nuclear membrane present in cyst and
trophozoite form
• Chromatoid bodies are found in cyst, NOT in trophozoite forms
• Endolimax and Iodamoeba do not contain peripheral chromatin and
chromatoid bodies

Indentify the Species

ENTAMOEBA
HISTOLYTICA • Pathogenic amoeba
• Associated with:
a. amoebic dysentery
b. amoebic liver abscess - anchovy sauce liver aspirate
c. colonic perforation - flask shaped ulcers
d. secondary amoebic meningoencephalitis

• Mode of transmission: ingestion

• Primary site or habitat: colon
• Drug of choice: Metronidazole
ENTAMOEBA
HISTOLYTICA
ENTAMOEBA
HISTOLYTICA
• unidirectional
• regular, peripheral chromatin pattern
• centrally located karyosome in nucleus
• with some ingested RBC

• mature cyst is quadrinucleated (4 nucleus)

• Cigar-shaped chromatoidal bars (also: coffin,
rod, sausaged shaped)
 TAKE
NOTE!
E. histolytica resembles:
• E. dispar
• E. moshkovskii

Reporting of E. histolytica in most labs:

"E. histolytica/dispar"
E. coli, E. hartmanni, E. polecki, Endolimax nana,
Iodamoeba butschlii, Entamoeba dispar, and
Entamoeba gingivalis are generally considered
nonpathogenic and reside in the lumen of the large
intestine in the human host.
 AMOEBIASIS

Amebiasis is an intestinal illness caused by a

microscopic parasite called Entamoeba
histolytica, which is spread through human
feces. It is the third most common cause of
death from parasitic disease.
 INTESTINAL
AMOEBIASIS
A. SYMPTOMATIC/ACUTE
• incubation period is 2-5 days
• characterized by frequent dysentery
• mucosa and abdominal pain
• stool is bloody and mucus filled
• laboratory diagnosis can be made through
unstained and stained fecal smear
examination
 INTESTINAL
AMOEBIASIS
B. ASYMPTOMATIC/CHRONIC
• Characterized by recurrent episodes of
dysentery, git disturbances, and
constipation
• Laboratory diagnosis can be made through
examination of direct or indirect fecal
smears and concentration techniques
 EXTRAINTESTINAL
AMOEBIASIS
• most common site is the liver (hepatic
amoebiasis)
• amebic liver abscess
• pulmonary amebiasis
• cerebral amebiasis
• splenic amebiasis
• cutaneous amebiasis
• genitourinary amebiasis
FREE LIVING
AMOEBA
• live independently in soil or water
• do not require a human or animal host
• rarely causes disease but it can cause skin lesions in
immunocompromised patients.
• Pathogenic free-living amoebas are of the genera
Acanthamoeba, Balamuthia, Naegleria, and Sappinia.
ACANTHA
MOEBA
• they normally reside in soil and can infect
children
• in normal individuals, the infection may cause
mild pharyngitis or remain asymptomatic
• in immunoefficient individuals, the organism
may penetrate the esophageal mucosa and
reach the brain where it causes granulomatous
amebic encephalitis and Acanthamoeba
keratitis.
• organ for locomotion is Acanthopodia
 NAEGLERI
A
• a free living pathogenic amoeba
• Pathogenic spp: N. fowleri PH: N.
philippinensis
• Causative agent: primary amoebic
meningoencephalitis
• Causes purulent spinal fluid, motile amoeba
• Intranasal or oral
The typical characteristics that differentiate the amoebas include, size, shape, nuclear
structure, cytoplasm appearance, and cytoplasmic inclusions.