Amebiasis the Pareteorsite

Several protozoan species in the genus Entamoeba colonize humans, but not all of them are associated with disease. Entamoeba histolytica is well recognized as a pathogenic ameba, associated with intestinal and extraintestinal infections. Other morphologically-identical Entamoeba spp., including E. dispar, E. moshkovskii, and E. bangladeshi, are generally not associated with disease although investigations into pathogenic potential are ongoing.

While the discussed species are morphologically-identical, E. histolytica may be observed with ingested red blood cells (erythrophagocytosis); E. dispar may occasionally be seen with ingested erythrocytes as well, although its capacity for erythrophagocytosis is much less than that of E. histolytica. Non-pathogenic amebae (e.g. Endolimax nana, Iodamoeba buetschlii, other Entamoeba species) are important because they may be confused with E. histolytica in diagnostic investigations.