2. DEFINITION
Amebiasis is infection with intestinal pathogen
Entameba histolytica (tissue lysing ameba)
Most Infection are asymptomatic
disease ranging from Dysentry to extaintestinal
infectons like liver absess
Most of asymptomatic infection is due to E.dispar
Endemic area Mexico,India & tropical regions of
Africa,South and Central America
3. LIFE CYCLE AND TRANSMISSION
E. histolytica exists in two stages
multinucleate cyst Motile Trophozoite
4. TRANSMISSION
E. histolytica are most common in areas where
poor sanitation and crowding compromise the
barrier to contamination of food and drinking water
with human feces
Infection is acquired by ingestion of cysts in faecally
contaminated water or food
Cysts are resistant to the acid in the stomach
6. PATHOGENESIS AND PATHOLOGY
E.histolytica trophozoites invade through the
submucosal layer, creating the classic flask shaped
ulcers that appear on pathologic examination as
narrow-necked lesions broadening in the
submucosal region
Ulcers tend to stop at the muscularis layer, and full-
thickness lesions and colonic perforation are
unusual
8. PATHOGENESIS AND PATHOLOGY
In some individuals, trophozoites invade the portal
venous system and reach the liver, where they
cause amebic liver abscesses
characteristic appearance on pathologic
examination: the roughly circular abscesses contain
a large necrotic center resembling anchovy paste
9. CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS
Two types- Intestinal and Extra Intestinal
Amebic colitis generally appear 2-6 weeks after
ingestion of the cyst of parasite
diarrhea and lower abdominal pain are the most
common complaints
Fever is present in 40% cases
Severe dysentry with 10-12 small volume, blood
and mucus containing stools may develop
10. CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS
Fulminant amebic colitis – profuse diarrhea, severe
abdominal pain, fever,and pronounced leukocytosis
It affects young children, pregnant women,
individuals treated with steroids and in diabetes
and alcoholism
Intestinal perforation occus in >75% of pts.with
fulminant disease
Complications includes
Toxic Megacolon in .5% with severe bowel dilatation and
intraluminal air
Ameboma-presents as abd. mass
11. AMEBIC LIVER ABSCESS
Most common extraintestinal complication
Most individuals do not have concurrent signs or
symptoms of colitis
The classical presentation of ALA are right upper
quadrant pain, fever and liver tenderness
Its acute in nature lasting < 10 days
Jaundice is uncommon
most common laboratory findings are leukocytosis
(without eosinophilia), an elevated alkaline
phosphatase level, mild anemia, and an elevated
ESR
12. OTHER MANIFESTATIONS AND COMPLICATIONS
Rt-sided pleural effusion - common in cases of ALA
In 10% rupture of abscess through diaphragm may
cause pleuro-pulmonary amebiasis
Sudden onset cough, pleuritic chest pain and
shortness of breath
Hepatobronchial fistula is dramatic complication in
which pt has complaint of cough with content of liver
abscess
Liver abscess may rupture into pericardial cavity
and can cause pericarditis with 30% mortality due to
cardiac temponade
13. DIAGNOSTIC TESTS
Demonstration of E.histolytica trophozoite or cyst
in the stool or colonic mucosa of pts with diarrhea
presence of amebic trophozoites containing red
blood cells in a diarrheal stool is highly suggestive
of E. histolytica infection
Antigen detection based ELISAs that can
specifically identify E.histolytica in the stool
colonoscopy with examination of brushings or
mucosal biopsies for E. histolytica trophozoites
Amebic serology
14. DIAGNOSTIC TESTS
Diagnosis of amebic liver abscess is based on the
detection of one or more space occupying lesions
in the liver by Ultrasound and CT scan and a
positive serology
classically described as single, large and located in
right lobe of liver
When a pt. with space ahs a occupying lesion in the
liver, a positive serology is highly sensitive(>94% )
and highly specific(>95%) for the diagnosis of the
liver abscess
16. TREATMENT
The nitroimidazole compounds tinidazole and
metronidazole are the drug of choice
Tinidazole appears to be better tolerated and more
effective
Whenever possible fulminant amebic colitis should
be managed conservatively
17. TREATMENT
Aspiration of liver abscess reserved for
pyogenic abscess or a bacterial superinfection is
suspected,
for pts failing to respond to tinidazole or metronidazole (
those who have persistent fever or abdominal pain after
4 days of treatment),
for individuals with large liver abscesses in the left lobe
large abscess with risk of imminent rupture
Pleuropulmonary amebiasis
Amebic pericarditis
18. TREATMENT
luminal agents (Paramomycin or iodoquinol) to
ensure eradication of infection
Paramomycin is preferred agent
Asymptomatic individuals with documented E.
histolytica infection should be treated because of
the risks of developing amebic colitis or amebic
liver abscess in the future and of transmitting the
infection to others
19. TREATMENT
Drug Dosage Duration
Amebic Colitis Or ALA
Tinidazole 2g/day with food 3
Metronidazole 750mg tid PO or IV 5-10
Luminal Infection
Paramomycin 30mg/kg qd PO in 3
divided dose
5-10
Iodoquinol 650 mg PO tid 20