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Entamoeba histolytica is a pathogenic intestinal parasite that causes amoebic dysentery and can lead to severe complications in various organs. It exists in two forms: the pathogenic Trophozoite and the non-pathogenic Minuta, with a life cycle that includes encystment and excystment stages. Preventive measures include proper sanitation, hygiene, and food safety practices to avoid transmission.

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15 views3 pages

Zol 92

Entamoeba histolytica is a pathogenic intestinal parasite that causes amoebic dysentery and can lead to severe complications in various organs. It exists in two forms: the pathogenic Trophozoite and the non-pathogenic Minuta, with a life cycle that includes encystment and excystment stages. Preventive measures include proper sanitation, hygiene, and food safety practices to avoid transmission.

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sumera sultana
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B.

Sc Part-1 Zoology (H) Paper-1 Group-B Topic- Structure and Life Cycle of Entamoeba
Histolytica Lecture Notes By Dr. Arjun Pratap Singh

Classification of Entamoeba Histolytica

Phylum: Protozoa

Subphylum: Sarcomastigophora

Class: Rhizopodea

Subclass: Lobosia

Order: Amoebida

Genus: Entamoeba

Species: histolytica

Entamoeba histolytica is a pathogenic parasite in the intestine of human beings and many other
primates. It inhabits the mucous and sub-mucous layers of the large intestine. It feeds mainly on the
tissues of the intestinal wall and often produces severe ulcers and abscesses. In chronic cases, it may
enter the blood circulation to reach the liver, lung, brain and other organs. It causes a serious and often
fatal disease known as amoebic dysentery or amoebiasis. E. histolytica exists in two distict forms: the
magna Trophozoite or form and the minuta or precystic form, (Fig. 1).

E. histolytica Trophozoites:

The adult trophic form of Entamoeba is known as Trophozoite or Magna. It inhabits anterior part of
large intestine, i.e. colon of human beings. It resembles amoeba in structure but differs in parasitic
mode of life. Its body is covered by plasma lemma and cytoplasm is differentiated into ectoplasm and
endoplasm. There is a single large, broad and blunt pseudopodium formed of ectoplasm. Endoplasm
contains single spherical nucleus and food vacuoles. Nucleus has peripheral crown of chromatin
blocks and a centrally located nucleolus.

The trophozoites multiply by repeated binary fission in the intestinal wall of host. Some of the
daughter entamoebae grow into normal adults while others stop growing. These are distinctly smaller
than the normal trophozoites and are called Minuta forms.
Precystic (minuta Form)

It is smaller, spherical and non- pathogenic stage. Normally, it lives in the lumen of the intestine and
rarely found in tissues. It undergoes encystations and helps in transmission of parasites from one host
to other.

Life cycle:
Entamoeba histolytica is monogenetic, i.e., its life cycle is completed on one host only; the man.

Its life cycle is completed as follows:

Encystment:

In the precystic forms, entamoeba remains only in the intestinal lumen. They undergo encystment but
before encystment, the parasites round up, eliminate food vacuoles and accumulate considerable
amount of food materials in the form of glycogen and black rod-like chromatoid granules. Each
parasite secretes a thin, rounded, resistant, colourless and transparent cyst wall around it.

The cysts of Entamoeba histolytica vary in size. Its cytoplasm is clear and each cyst is mononucleate
at this stage. Presence of chromatoid bodies is the characteristic of the cysts of Entamoeba histolytica.
They occur either singly or in the multiples of two or more. The nucleus of the cysts divides twice so
that each cyst now becomes tetra nucleate (fig. 9.2). At this stage, the cyst is infective to a new host.
Encysted forms pass out with the faecal matter of the host.

Life Cycle of E. Histolytic

Transfer to new host:

The infective cysts remain viable for a considerable length of time outside the human intestine, if
environmental conditions are favourable. Infection of fresh human host takes place by swallowing
the infective cysts with contaminated food and drinks.
Excystment:

The metacystic trophozites feed on the contents of the intestine and grow in size to form the
trophozites of the next generation. The trophozoites stay in the lumen of the intestine for a particular
period when they may attack the wall of the intestine and start the life cycle again. Entamoeba
histolytica causes amoebic dysentery, abscesses in liver, lungs and brain and non-dysenteric
infections.

Following measures may be helpful in protecting ourselves against the disease:

1. Sanitary disposal of faecal matter

2. Perfect sanitation and protection of water and vegetables from pollution.

3. Washing of hands with antiseptic soap and water before touching the food.

4. Cleanliness in preparing the food.

5. Protection of foods and drinks from houseflies, cockroaches, etc.

6. Raw and improperly washed and cooked vegetables should be avoided.

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