Entamoeba Polecki: Everything You Need to Know

Introduction:

Entamoeba polecki is a non-pathogenic amoeba. It is an intestinal parasite of the genus Entamoeba. The first case of Entamoeba polecki was identified by Von Prowazek in 1912 in Czechoslovakia in stool samples of two students from Kampuchea. The parasite can be mistaken for a pathogenic parasite because the characteristics of pathogenic and non-pathogenic parasites are the same. Entamoeba polecki is found in pigs, humans, and monkeys. Entamoeba polecki is considered non-pathogenic in humans but can show symptoms in humans. The non-pathogenic parasite colonizes the large intestine of humans, pigs, and other mammals. The parasite has a worldwide distribution but is more prevalent in New Guinea, South East Asia, France, and the United States. The disease is transmitted through the fecal-oral route. The prevalence of the disease is highest in areas with poor sanitation. The non-pathogenic parasite consists of two forms that are trophozoite and cyst.

What Are the Causative Agents of Entamoeba Polecki?

• Entamoeba polecki is one of many non-pathogenic parasites in humans, pigs, and monkeys. The parasite is transmitted through the fecal-oral route. The non-pathogenic parasite lives in the large intestine of humans, pigs, and monkeys.

• The disease is acquired by ingesting contaminated food and water. The transmission can be from pigs to humans and humans to humans.

What Is the Morphology of Entamoeba Polecki?

Entamoeba polecki is the inhabitant of the large intestine of humans. It consists of two life forms that are trophozoite and cysts.

1) Morphology of Trophozoite:

• It is one of the two life forms of Entamoeba polecki. Mature trophozoites are 10 to 20 um (micrometer) in diameter. They have pseudopodia (an arm-like projection raised from the cell membrane for feeding) for locomotion.
• The trophozoites are irregularly shaped and vary in size ranging from 8 to 25 um. It consists of a single nucleus. The nucleus is large and vesicular.
• A nucleus with a small central karyosome (central portion of cell nucleus) is finely dispersed with peripheral chromatin. Cytoplasmic contents are granular and vacuolated (filled with food vacuoles).
• Trophozoites are seen as sluggish, non-progressive, and motile in normal stool consistency and seen as progressive, motile, and unidirectional (moves in a single direction) in the diarrheal stool.

2) Morphology of Cysts:

• The cyst ranges in size from 10 to 20 um (micrometer), and the average range is 12 to 18 um. The cyst is spherical to oval in shape.
• The cyst consists of single nuclei. The nuclei contain a small central chromosome. A nucleus with a small central karyosome is present. Peripheral chromatin is free and evenly distributed.
• The cytoplasm is granular. The cysts have varying chromatid bars and a large inclusion mass.
• The cysts are the infective stage of Entamoeba polecki. The cysts are visible in the formed stool.

What Is the Mode of Transmission of Entamoeba Polecki?

There are two stages in the lifecycle of Entamoeba polecki. The first stage is the trophozoite stage, a vegetative stage in which the trophozoite cannot survive in the external environment. The second stage is the cyst, in which the parasite is transmitted and survives in the external environment. The life cycle is described as follows:

• The parasite is transmitted through the fecal-oral route, and transmission occurs through pork ingestion. Both the cysts and trophozoites are passed in the stool. The cysts are found in the healthy stool, whereas the trophozoites are found in the loose stool.

• The non-pathogenic amoebae colonize after the ingestion of the cyst in food and water contaminated with feces.

• Excystation (removal of the cyst) occurs in the small intestine, and the trophozoite is released to the large intestine. Then the trophozoite multiplies and produces cysts.

• Both cysts and trophozoites are passed through the feces. The cyst can survive in the external environment because of the protection provided by the cell wall and are responsible for the transmission of the infection.

• The trophozoites in the stool are destroyed in the external environment. The cysts are the infective stage of the infection.

What Are the Risk Factors of Entamoeba Polecki?

The risk factors are.

• Fruits, raw vegetables, and food contaminated by feces.

• Water contaminated by feces.

• Unhygienic conditions.

• Mechanical vectors like houseflies and cockroaches because these vectors may act as a carrier of cysts from feces to unprotected food and water.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Entamoeba Polecki?

Entamoeba polecki is non-pathogenic amoebae found in the intestine of humans, so they often show no symptoms. If symptoms show, they are as follows.

• Nausea.

• Vomiting.

• Diarrhea.

• Bloody stools.

• Fever.

• Abdominal pain.

• Chills.

• Weight loss.

How Is Entamoeba Polecki Infection Diagnosed?

The investigation is as follows.

• Stool Examination - This test is used to identify uninucleated cysts and trophozoites. The trophozoites are found in loose stools, and the cyst is in the healthy stool.

• Microscopic Examination - The examination is used to observe the cyst and trophozoite in concentrated wet mount and permanent stained smear. The test is also used to identify the presence of a large compact glycogen vacuole in the cyst stage.

How Is Entamoeba Polecki Infection Managed?

• Entamoeba polecki is seen in stool samples.

• The patient is treated with antiparasitic medication such as Metronidazole and Ornidazole. Combination therapy such as Metronidazole and Diloxamide furoate is prescribed.

• The doctor will prescribe a Metronidazole dose of 750 mg orally thrice a day for five days.

What Are the Prevention Strategies for Entamoeba Polecki?

Prevention can be done by following measures. They are as follows.

• Maintenance of personal hygiene.

• Protect the food and water from flies and cockroaches.

• Chlorination and filtration of drinking water.

• Avoid night soil fertilizing with feces.

• Hand washes with soap and water before and after handling the food.

• Use of insecticides to kill the insects.

Conclusion:

Entamoeba polecki is a non-pathogenic amoeba. The parasite remains asymptomatic, and the people must adopt preventive measures. Healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, and pharmacists, can organize camps to educate people about disease treatment and prevention. People must follow personal hygiene and sanitation procedures. The healthcare team should work together to achieve better outcomes.