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Entamoeba coli

Geographic distribution. Worldwide in temperate and tropic zone.

Infection rate. Less than 10% through out the world.

Life cycle. Same as that of E. histolytica.

Morphology. Trophozoite is measured 15 to 50 §­ in diameter and has a large karyosome, frequently with irregular shape and eccentric in nucleus. Cysts overlap the size range of E. histolytica, being 10 to 35 §­ in diameter. One to eight nuclei including the eccentric location of the karyosome are observed.

Pathology and clinical symptoms. Non-pathogenic.

Diagnosis. Detection of cysts in the stool.

Comments. This amoeba must be differentiated from E. histolytica.

Ho-Joon Shin


Cyst of Entamoeba coli showing 7 nuclei (Iodine stain, 1000x).
B. Cyst of Entamoeba coli showing 7 nuclei (I-H stain, 1000x).

DY Min/MH Ahn/JS Ryu