Histopathology of cutaneous amebiasis

Cutaneous amebiasis (CA) is the manifestation in the skin and underlying soft tissues of the pathogenic properties of Entamoeba histolytica, which may be the only expression of the infection or may be associated with disease in other organs. So far, there have been only isolated case reports on this disease. We herein report the histopathologic findings on a series of seven cases, six adults and one child, of CA. The most common findings include ulcers, areas of necrosis, mixed inflammatory infiltrates, and the presence of trophozoites, the invasive form of the parasite. CA is a very rare and severe disease, it is progressive and destructive; erythrophagocytosis, a microscopic sign of pathogenicity, is always seen in CA.