Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 27, 2026
10:57
Determining Soil-transmitted Helminth Infection Status and Physical Fitness of School-aged Children
Published on: August 22, 2012
23.6K
Asymptomatic amebiasis diagnosed 10 years after exposure to the pathogen.
Takayuki Yamada1, Kunihiro Hamada2
1Internal Medicine Asunaro Clinic Takasaki City Japan.
Journal of General and Family Medicine
|July 8, 2022
Summary
A colonoscopy for colorectal cancer screening unexpectedly found multiple Entamoeba trophozoites in a patient's cecum. This finding highlights the importance of considering parasitic infections during endoscopic evaluations.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Infectious Diseases
- Parasitology
Background:
- Colorectal cancer screening via colonoscopy is a routine procedure for individuals over 40.
- The cecum, the beginning of the large intestine, is a common site for colorectal pathology.
- Parasitic infections can present with varied gastrointestinal symptoms or be asymptomatic.
Observation:
- During a total colonoscopy for colorectal cancer screening, multiple cecal erosions were observed.
- Biopsy samples were taken from the affected areas of the cecum.
Findings:
- Microscopic examination of biopsy specimens revealed the unexpected presence of multiple Entamoeba trophozoites.
- Entamoeba, a genus of amoeboid protozoa, can cause intestinal infections.
Implications:
- This case underscores the potential for incidental detection of parasitic infections during routine endoscopic procedures.
- Further investigation may be warranted to determine the clinical significance and management of Entamoeba in this context.
- Consideration of Entamoeba should be included in the differential diagnosis for unexplained cecal erosions found during colonoscopy.
Related Concept Videos
01:28Toxoplasmosis
Toxoplasmosis, a zoonotic disease caused by the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii, poses significant public health challenges globally due to its high seroprevalence and varied clinical manifestations. As an obligate intracellular parasite, T. gondii can infect all warm-blooded vertebrates, but felids are its only definitive hosts, shedding unsporulated oocysts into the environment. Humans typically acquire the infection through ingestion of tissue cysts in undercooked meat or oocysts from...
01:22American Trypanosomiasis
Chagas disease, or American trypanosomiasis, is a vector-borne parasitic infection caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, a flagellated protozoan (kinetoplastid) of the family Trypanosomatidae. The disease is endemic in Latin America, although cases are increasingly reported worldwide due to human migration. Transmission most commonly occurs when feces of infected triatomine bugs contaminate bite wounds or mucosal surfaces; additional routes include congenital, transfusional, transplant-related, and oral...
01:12Giardiasis
Giardiasis is a globally prevalent intestinal infection caused by the protozoan parasite Giardia duodenalis (also known as G. lamblia or G. intestinalis). This flagellated protozoan is the most frequently identified intestinal parasite in the United States and worldwide. Transmission primarily occurs via the fecal-oral route, with infection arising from ingestion of water or food contaminated with cysts. Individuals in low-resource settings, international travelers, outdoor enthusiasts, daycare...
01:28Amebiasis
Entamoeba histolytica, a protozoan parasite, is responsible for intestinal and extraintestinal amebiasis. Though a significant proportion of infections remain asymptomatic, approximately 50 million individuals annually are estimated to present with clinical disease, resulting in up to 100,000 deaths globally. The disease burden is disproportionately high in regions with lower socioeconomic status, such as parts of India, Africa, Mexico, and Latin America.Etiology and TransmissionThe infective...
01:18Trichomoniasis
Trichomonas vaginalis is a flagellated protozoan parasite and the causative agent of trichomoniasis, one of the most prevalent non-viral sexually transmitted infections in the United States. This extracellular parasite primarily colonizes the lower genitourinary tract in women—particularly the vagina—and in men, the urethra and prostate. Its structural and functional adaptations enable its survival, motility, and pathogenicity within the host environment.Structural Features and Host EntryT.