Amoebiasis as a Major Risk to Human Health: A Review

Entamoeba histolytica has diverse distribution and is a substantial risk in almost all the countries where barrier between human feces, food and water source are ordinary. There are at least 8 different amoebas that live in the human intestinal lumen however those are generally accepted as commensals except for E. histolytica . The parasite imposes a major threat to public health in most parts of world and has re-emerged in some previously dormant areas as it is categorized as second leading cause of death from parasitic disease worldwide. In most of E. histolytica infection, symptoms remain absent or very mild whereas most frequent clinical manifestation are colitis and liver abscess due to amoebic infection. Laboratory diagnosis of amoebiasis is usually made on the basis of microscopical and serological methods Nitromidazole derivatives like metronidazole, tinidazole and ornidazole are considered as foundation stone of the treatment for amoebiasis. Lack of effective vaccination is one of the major hurdles for the control of amoebiasis that may prevent transmission of the parasite and or at least progression of the infected individuals into active invasive disease. The aim of this article is to comprehensively review the epidemiology, disease pathology and treatment of this parasitic zoonotic disease.