Entamoeba histolytica Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) Agents that Infect Humans and Some Other Mammals: A Review

¹ Department of Animal Diseases and Veterinary Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, IPB University, Bogor, Indonesia
² Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Syiah Kuala University, Banda Aceh, Indonesia
³ Technical Unit for Implementation of Artificial Insemination and Incubator Livestock of Aceh Province, Jantho, Indonesia

^* Corresponding author: junaidi_akljg@apps.ipb.ac.id

Abstract

Amoebiasis caused by Entamoeba histolytica is an important issue in world public health because it is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Entamoeba histolytica is the only species of its genus that commonly causes mild irritation, injury, to inflammation of the walls of the colon and cecum. In some cases, parasites also invade other organs, especially the liver, lungs, kidneys, and brain. Methods: Our article search uses the help of four search engines namely Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, and Springer. Results: Entamoeba histolytica is not easily transmitted from animals to humans, due to the fact that this parasite rarely encysts in the intestinal lumen of animals which is an important factor in the transmission of this parasite. And conversely, subclinical amebiasis in humans acts as the dominant host for transmission of this parasite either from human to human or from human to animal.