Iodamoeba Buetschlii - Morphology, Transmission, Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Management

Introduction:

Iodamoeba buetschlii is a non-pathogenic parasite. The term Iodamoeba means the large clear spaces in the cytoplasm. Iod is an amoeba genus, and buetschlii is a parasite in man. It is a genus of parasitic amoebae and superclass Rhizopoda and order Amoebida. The name Iodamoeba buetschlii is discovered by Prowazek in 1912. The parasite gets its name because of its appearance when stained with iodine. The parasite can be mistaken for a pathogenic parasite because the characteristics of pathogenic and non-pathogenic parasites are the same. The non-pathogenic parasite is a parasite of humans. It is usually found in pigs. The non-pathogenic amoeba colonizes the large intestine cecum in humans, pigs, and other mammals. The parasite has a worldwide distribution but is most common in tropical and subtropical areas and cosmopolitan countries. The prevalence of the parasite is highest in areas with poor sanitation. The parasite is transmitted through the fecal-oral route. The non-pathogenic parasite consists of two forms that are trophozoite and cyst.

What Are the Causative Agents of Iodamoeba Buetschlii?

Iodamoeba buetschlii is one of many non-pathogenic protozoa found in humans. The parasite is transmitted through fecal-oral contact. The protozoa inhabit the large intestine of humans. The disease is acquired by ingesting contaminated food and water.

What Is the Morphology of Iodamoeba Buetschlii?

The Iodamoeba buetschlii lives in the intestine of humans and is most common in pigs. It consists of two life forms that are trophozoite and cyst.

1. Morphology of Trophozoite:

• It is one of the two life forms of Iodamoeba buetschlii. The trophozoites are 9 to 14 um in diameter. They have pseudopodia (an arm-like projection raised from the cell membrane for feeding) for locomotion. The pseudopodia are short and blunt and move slowly. It consists of a single nucleus, which is prominent for the nuclear membrane.

• The nucleus is large and vesicular. A nucleus with a large karyosome (central portion of cell nucleus) is seen when stained with the fecal smear. The chromatin strands form striations around the karyosome. The cytoplasm is granular and filled with food vacuoles. Food vacuoles are filled with bacteria and debris.

• The trophozoites are found in loose stool and are diagnosed by stool smear. The trophozoites live in the large intestine, where they survive by ingesting bacteria and yeast and not by red blood cells.

2. Morphology of Cyst:

• The cysts are eight to ten micrometer in diameter. It has a thick wall and a large glycogen vacuole. The cysts are usually harmless but may cause amebiasis in immunocompromised individuals. The cyst has an oval-shaped nucleus and a prominent endosome. The large single glycogen-filled vacuole is called an iodinophilous vacuole.

• The cysts are the infective stage of Iodamoeba buetschlii. Cysts are found in healthy stools. The chromatid bodies are absent.

3. Iodine Stain Characteristics:

Glycogen vacuole is so prominent in iodine stains. Glycogen vacuole is present as a well-defined mass of brown color when stained with iodine. The glycogen vacuole is seen in other amoebae and is not consistently seen in Iodamoeba. It is seen as a dark brown mass, but more than half of the diameter of the cyst is seen with pale yellow cytoplasm.

4. Permanent Stain Characteristics:

In well-stained preparations, chromatin granules are crescent-shaped. Linen fibrils run between the karyosome and chromatid granules. The arrangement is known as a basket of flowers. The distorted chromosome forms the basket, and linen fibrils form the stem and the granules as a blossom. Karyosome is large, irregularly shaped, and surrounded by granules.

What Is the Mode of Transmission of Iodamoeba Buetschlii?

The Iodamoeba buetschlii lives in the intestine of humans, and the parasite is transmitted through the fecal-oral route. The life cycle describes as follows:

• 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 cysts in food and water contaminated with feces.

• Excystation (removal from the cyst) occurs in the small intestine, and the trophozoites are released to the large intestine. The trophozoites multiply and produce cysts.

• Both cysts and trophozoites passed through the feces. The cyst can survive in the environment because of the protection provided by the cell wall. The cysts 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 Signs and Symptoms of Iodamoeba Buetschlii?

Iodamoeba buetschlii commonly reside in the large intestine of humans and often show no symptoms. The signs and symptoms caused by lodamoeba buetschlii include.

• Loose stools.

• Abdominal pain.

• Nausea and vomiting.

• Chills.

• Weight loss.

• Flatulence (accumulation of gas in the alimentary canal).

How Can Iodamoeba Buetschlii Infection Be Diagnosed?

The diagnosis can be made by the following:

1. Microscopic Examination - Microscopy of the cyst can be done with a concentration procedure. Concentration can be iodine stained and formol-ether concentration. When the cyst is stained with iodine, glycogen is present as well defined dark brown mass.

2. Stool Examination - The identification is made by observing cysts and trophozoites. The trophozoites are found in the loose stool, and cysts are seen in the formed stool.

How Can Iodamoeba Buetschlii Infection Be Managed?

The Iodamoeba buetschlii is seen in stool samples. The patient is treated with Dehydroemetine and Chloroquine. After two months of treatment, the doctor will notice the complement fixation (an immunological test used to find the specific antigen or antibody in the patient's serum) titer. The titer should decrease to 1:2 in a serum sample.

What Is the Prevention of Iodamoeba Buetschlii?

The prevention can be done by:

• Maintainance of personal hygiene.

• Chlorination and filtration of drinking water.

• Avoid night soil fertilizing with human feces.

• Protect the food from flies and cockroaches.

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

Conclusion:

Iodamoeba buetschlii is a non-pathogenic amoebae. It remains asymptomatic, but the people should adopt preventive measures. The healthcare team approach, including doctors, nurses, and pharmacists, can organize camps to educate people about the disease and to eliminate and prevent the disease. People should be educated about hygiene and sanitation procedures by doctors. People must filter the water before drinking.