Download PDF
Clin Colon Rectal Surg 2007; 20(1): 033-037
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-970198
Copyright © 2007 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc., 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Amebiasis

Karim A. Alavi1
  • 1Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Minnesota, St. Paul Minnesota
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
28 February 2007 (online)

    Permissions and Reprints

ABSTRACT

Amebiasis is an important cause of death from parasitic disease worldwide. The causative organism is Entamoeba histolytica, which has an infective cyst stage and a pathogenic and motile trophozoite stage. The clinical presentation can vary from an asymptomatic carrier state to fulminant colitis and colonic perforation. The majority of patients can be managed medically. However, a small percentage of patients require urgent exploration and resection with an associated high mortality rate. Early recognition and initiation of medical therapy including treatment of asymptomatic carriers are vital to preventing catastrophic outcomes.

KEYWORDS

Ameba - colitis - fulminant - parasite

REFERENCES

  • 1 Ellyson J H, Bezmalinovic Z, Parks S N, Lewis F R. Necrotizing amebic colitis: a frequently fatal complication.  Am J Surg. 1986;  152 21-26
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 2 Saltzberg D M, Hall-Craggs M. Fulminant amebic colitis in a homosexual man.  Am J Gastroenterol. 1986;  81 209-212
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 3 Buie W. Colitides Other than Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's Disease. American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Core Subjects 2004 Alberta, Canada;
    Google Scholar
  • 4 Elsdon-Dew R. Amoebiasis: its meaning and diagnosis.  S Afr Med J. 1969;  43 483-486
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 5 Stanley Jr S L. Amoebiasis.  Lancet. 2003;  361 1025-1034
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 6 Luvuno F M, Mtshali Z, Baker L W. Vascular occlusion in the pathogenesis of complicated amoebic colitis: evidence of an hypothesis.  Br J Surg. 1985;  72 123-127
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 7 DeBakey M E, Ocshner A. Hepatic amoebiasis: a twenty year experience and analysis of 263 cases.  Surg Gynecol Obstet. 1951;  92 209-231
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 8 Abuabara S F, Barrett J A, Hau T, Jonasson O. Amebic liver abscess.  Arch Surg. 1982;  117 239-244
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 9 Campbell S. Amebic brain abscess and meningoencephalitis.  Semin Neurol. 1993;  13 153-160
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 10 O'Leary R K, Posen J. Amebiasis of the penis.  S Afr Med J. 1984;  65 113
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 11 Allason-Jones E, Mindel A, Sargeaunt P, Williams P. Entamoeba histolytica as a commensal intestinal parasite in homosexual men.  N Engl J Med. 1986;  315 353-356
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 12 Keystone J S, Keystone D L, Proctor E M. Intestinal parasitic infections in homosexual men: prevalence, symptoms, and factors in transmission.  Can Med Assoc J. 1980;  123 512-514
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 13 Phillips S C, Mildvan D, William D C, Gelb A M, White M C. Sexual transmission of enteric protozoa and helminths in a venereal-disease-clinic population.  N Engl J Med. 1981;  305 603-606
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 14 Acuna-Soto R, Maguire J H, Wirth D F. Gender distribution in asymptomatic and invasive amebiasis.  Am J Gastroenterol. 2000;  95 1277-1283
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 15 Patterson M, Schoppe L E. The presentation of amoebiasis.  Med Clin North Am. 1982;  66 689-705
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 16 Lewis E A, Antia A U. Amoebic colitis: review of 295 cases.  Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 1969;  63 633-638
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 17 Adams E B, Macleod I N. Invasive amoebiasis: amebic dysentery and its complications.  Medicine (Baltimore). 1977;  56 315-324
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 18 Wruble L D, Duckworth J K, Duke D D, Rothschild J A. Toxic dilatation of the colon in a case of amebiasis.  N Engl J Med. 1966;  275 926-928
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 19 Barnes P F, DeCock K M, Reynolds T N, Ralls P W. A comparison of pyogenic and amebic abscess of the liver.  Medicine (Baltimore). 1987;  66 472-483
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 20 Kimura K, Stoopen M, Reeder M M, Moncada R. Amebiasis: modern diagnostic imaging with pathological and clinical correlation.  Semin Roentgenol. 1997;  32 250-275
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 21 Krupp I M. Antibody response in intestinal and extraintestinal amebiasis.  Am J Trop Med Hyg. 1970;  19 57-62
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 22 Nwafo D C, Egbue M O. Intrathoracic manifestations of amebiasis.  Ann R Coll Surg Engl. 1981;  63 126-128
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 23 Ibarra-Perez C. Thoracic complications of amebic abscess of the liver. Report of 501 cases.  Chest. 1981;  79 672-677
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 24 Eggleston F C, Handa A K, Verghese M. Amebic peritonitis secondary to amebic liver abscess.  Surgery. 1982;  91 46-48
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 25 Heinz K P. Amebic infection of the female genital tract: a report of three cases.  S Afr Med J. 1973;  47 1795-1798
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 26 Healy G R. Laboratory diagnosis of amebiasis.  Bull NY Acad Med. 1971;  47 478-493
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 27 Patterson M, Healy G R, Shabot J M. Serologic testing for amoebiasis.  Gastroenterology. 1980;  78 136-141
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 28 Powell S J, Wilmot A J, Elsdon-Dew R. Single and low dosage regimens of metronidazole in amoebic dysentery and amoebic liver abscess.  Ann Trop Med Parasitol. 1969;  63 139-142
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 29 Pehrson P O, Bengrsson E. A long-term follow-up study of amoebiasis treated with metronidazole.  Scand J Infect Dis. 1984;  16 195-198
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 30 Aristizabal H, Acevedo J, Botero M. Fulminant amebic colitis.  World J Surg. 1991;  15 216-221
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 31 Vajrabukka T, Dhitavat A, Kichananata B, Sukonthamad Y, Tanphiphat C, Vonviriyathams S. Fulminating amebic colitis: a clinical evaluation.  Br J Surg. 1979;  66 630-632
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 32 Elhence I P, Agrawal B M, Sharma B D. Amebic necrosis of bowel.  Int Surg. 1979;  64 57-61
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 33 Chen W J, Chen K M, Lin M. Colon perforation in amebiasis.  Arch Surg. 1971;  103 676-680
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 34 Wig J D, Kaushik S P, Saleem M A, Srinath B S, Datta B N, Talwar B L. Amebic perforation of the colon.  Int Surg. 1982;  67 486-487
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 35 Giacchino J L, Pickleman J, Bartizal J F, Banich F E. The therapeutic dilemma of acute amebic and ulcerative colitis.  Surg Gynecol Obstet. 1978;  146 599-603
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 36 Stein D, Bank S, Louw J H. Fulminating amebic colitis.  Surgery. 1979;  85 349-352
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 37 Thuse M G. Fatal intestinal amebiasis.  Postgrad Med J. 1979;  55 548-552
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 38 Hadley G P, Mickel R E. Fulminating amebic colitis in infants and children.  J R Coll Surg Edinb. 1984;  29 370-372
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 39 Greenstein A J, Grenstein R J, Sachar D B. Toxic dilatation in amebic colitis: successful treatment without colectomy.  Am J Surg. 1980;  139 456-458
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 40 Luvsno F M. Role of intraoperative prograde colonic lavage and decompressive loop ileostomy in the management of transmural amoebic colitis.  Br J Surg. 1990;  77 156-159
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 41 Zafar A, Ahmed S. Amoebic liver abscess: a comparative study of needle aspiration versus conservative treatment.  J Ayub Med Coll Abbottabad. 2002;  14 10-12
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 42 Meng X Y, Wu J X. Perforated amebic liver abscess: clinical analysis of 110 cases.  South Med J. 1994;  87 985-990
    PubMedGoogle Scholar

Karim A AlaviM.D. 

Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Minnesota

393 Dunlap Ave. North, Ste. 500, St. Paul, MN 55104

Email: alav0006@umn.edu

      >