Amoebic Dysentery: Causes

Pathogenesis (disease development)

Amoebic dysentery is caused by the protozoan (single-celled organism) Entamoeba histolytica (sensu stricto).

The pathogens enter the body as cysts through oral ingestion of contaminated drinking water, as well as food. They are resistant to the acidic gastric juice.

The pathogens live and multiply by cell division in the colon (large intestine). The 4-nucleated cysts form divisible mononuclear trophozoites. They are also called minutaforms, while trophozoites that have phagocytosed erythrocytes (red blood cells) (introduced into the cell; subsequent enzymatic degradation of the erythrocytes) are called magnaforms. The minuta form is harmless. It is also called the permanent form because it permanently forms cysts that persist in the colon for years without signs of disease. In some cases, the cysts are excreted in the stool.

In the outside world, the cysts can remain infectious for months. Under certain circumstances, which have not yet been clarified, the pathogenic (pathological) magna form can develop from the minuta form. This can invade the intestinal mucosa (intestinal mucosa), damage it and migrate further (invasive form). The minuta forms cause harmless diarrhea, while the magna forms cause intestinal mucosal inflammation with bloody diarrhea (diarrhea).

Etiology (causes)

Biographic causes

  • Homosexual men

Behavioral causes

  • Nutrition
    • Consumption of beverages suspected of being contaminated, as well as food, in endemic areas