The Intestinal Bacterial Microbiome and E. histolytica Infection

Entamoeba histolytica, the etiological agent of amebiasis, is a significant cause of pediatric diarrhea in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. The clinical outcome of an E. histolytica exposure varies enormously and can present as diarrhea, dysentery, or amebic liver abscess. Host and parasite factors likely contribute to the outcome of infection with the parasite, but do not explain the wide variation in presentation of disease. This suggests that other environmental factors affect disease. An emerging body of work suggests that the host intestinal bacterial microbiome may have a significant influence on the development and outcome of amebiasis.