Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 31, 2025

Analysis of the Epithelial Damage Produced by Entamoeba histolytica Infection
Published on: June 12, 2014
A Parasite That Should not be Neglected in Patients with Ulcerative Colitis: Entamoeba histolytica
Murat Soylu1, Abdurrahman Ekici1, Selahattin Aydemir1
1Van Yüzüncü Yıl University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Parasitology, Van, Türkiye.
Objective:
To determine the prevalence of amoebiasis, which has been neglected in recent years according to the World Health Organization, in ulcerative colitis patients and investigate the relationship between amoebiasis and ulcerative colitis.
Methods:
The study included 150 individuals, including 100 ulcerative colitis patients and 50 healthy individuals without gastrointestinal complaints. The samples collected were first analyzed macroscopically and then using native-Lugol, trichrome staining, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
Results:
In the microscopic examination, Entamoeba spp. cysts were found in 22% of the ulcerative colitis patients and 2% of those in the control group. Entamoeba histolytica (E. histolytica) adhesin antigen was detected by ELISA in 31% of the ulcerative colitis patients and 4% of those in the control group. A significant correlation was found between the incidence of E. histolytica and ulcerative colitis in the statistical evaluation.
Conclusion:
E. histolytica should not be neglected in ulcerative colitis patients and should be investigated in the presence of diarrhea, bloody diarrhea, and abdominal pain.
Related Concept Videos
Inflammatory Bowel Disease I: Ulcerative Colitis
Inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, encompasses a group of disorders characterized by chronic inflammation or ulceration of the gastrointestinal tract.
Risk Factors
The exact cause of IBD remains unclear, although it is believed to be due to a mix of genetic, environmental, microbial, and immune factors. Genetic factors are significant in determining susceptibility to IBD, with family history being a critical risk factor. Individuals with a first-degree relative who has IBD are at...
Drugs for Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis in IBD
Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Diagnostic Studies and Management I-Nutritional Therapy
Diagnostic studies
A colonoscopy is the definitive screening test, distinguishing ulcerative colitis from other colon diseases with similar symptoms. During a colonoscopy test, inflamed mucosa with exudate ulcerations can be observed, and biopsies are taken to determine the histologic characteristics of the...
Irritable Bowel Syndrome I: Introduction
IBS is a chronic condition that can persist over a long period or recur frequently.
The pathogenesis of IBS involves a complex interplay of the following factors:
Altered...
Chronic Bowel Disorders: Introduction
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder affecting the gastrointestinal tract. The distinctive feature is recurrent abdominal pain associated with altered bowel movements, manifesting as constipation, diarrhea, or fluctuating between both. The...

