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Amebiasis.
Definition:
Infection of the colon with entamoeba
histolytica, which is commonly
asymptomatic but may produce clinical
manifestations ranging from mild
diarrhoea to severe dysentery.
Aetiology.
It is caused by entamoeba histolytica.
E. dispar is a nonpathogenic protozoon
morphologically identical to E histolytica.
Previously reported asymptomatic
infections due to the so-called
nonpathogenic strains of E histolytica
now are recognized to be due to E.
dispar.
Transmission.
It is a natural infection of man, that may be
transmitted by direct contact from person
to person, through the faecal-oral route,
or indirectly by food, drink and
vegetables.
Epidemiology.
Amebiasis is the third leading parasitic
cause of death worldwide, surpassed
only by malaria and schistosomiasis. On
a global basis, amebiasis affects
approximately 50 million persons each
year, resulting in nearly 100,000 deaths.
Entamoeba life cycle