Human amoebiasis: cultivation and experimental transmission in animals

In vitro cultivation was carried out on an initial strain of Entamoeba histolytica from human source. Dysphasic medium was used and concentrations of horse serum and antibiotic varied in response to developments. Experimental infection of dogs, rabbits and mice was carried. Except for the controls, all animals were orally infected and monitored until the experiment was terminated. Parasitaemia became evident as from the 6th day in dogs experimentally infected and until about the 20th day when lower parasitaemia were obtained. Characteristic erosions were observed at autopsy. The tests in rabbits and mice showed that the strain used in this experiment was virulent. This paper highlights both the virulent nature of this parasite on other animals and its zoonotic potential.