Introduction
As mentioned in the DPDx – Laboratory Identification of Parasites of Public Health Concern, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website for parasite biology, several protozoan species in the genus Entamoeba colonize humans, but not all of them are associated with disease.
Entamoeba histolytica is well recognized as a pathogenic ameba, associated with intestinal and extraintestinal infections. Other morphologically-identical Entamoeba spp., including E. dispar, E. moshkovskii, and E. bangladeshi, are generally not associated with disease although investigations into pathogenic potential are ongoing.
While the discussed species are morphologically-identical, E. histolytica may be observed with ingested red blood cells (erythrophagocytosis); E. dispar may occasionally be seen with ingested erythrocytes as well, although its capacity for erythrophagocytosis is much less than that of E. histolytica.
Non-pathogenic amebae (e.g. Endolimax nana, Iodamoeba butschlii, and other Entamoeba species) are important because they may be confused with E. histolytica in diagnostic investigations.
Task
Enumerate the general characteristics of the parasites belonging to Class Sarcodina.
Enlist the different laboratory diagnosis, epidemiology, pathology and prevention of the individual parasites under this Genus.