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Japanese Journal of Radiology Jun 2021Entamoeba histolytica is distributed throughout the world. Invasive amebiasis affects millions of people globally, and the associated complications cause 40,000-100,000... (Review)
Review
Entamoeba histolytica is distributed throughout the world. Invasive amebiasis affects millions of people globally, and the associated complications cause 40,000-100,000 deaths per year. In countries where fecal-oral transmission is unusual, amebic colitis is not common, and the infection may be seen in travelers to and emigrants from endemic areas. Without adequate treatment, amebic colitis may develop into fulminant and become rapidly fatal. With the current increase in global mobility, amebic colitis should be suspected even in patients not in the endemic areas. CT plays an important role in the diagnosis of amebic colitis by demonstrating the presence of colitis with the typical involvement of the cecum and rectum. Pathological features of atypical involvement are also demonstrated. Since preoperative diagnosis can reduce the mortality associated with necrotizing colitis, radiologists need to recognize the typical as well as atypical CT findings of amebic colitis. Considering this requirement, this paper aims to describe the histopathologic features of amebic colitis and to illustrate the spectrum of corresponding CT findings.
Topics: Dysentery, Amebic; Entamoeba histolytica; Entamoebiasis; Gastrointestinal Tract; Humans; Male; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
PubMed: 33462730
DOI: 10.1007/s11604-021-01088-7 -
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases Jul 2016Amebic colitis, caused by intestinal infection with the parasite, Entamoeba histolytica, is a common cause of diarrhea worldwide. Fulminant amebic colitis is the most... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Amebic colitis, caused by intestinal infection with the parasite, Entamoeba histolytica, is a common cause of diarrhea worldwide. Fulminant amebic colitis is the most devastating complication of this infection, associated with both high mortality and morbidity. We conducted a review of the English literature to describe cases of fulminant amebic colitis associated with exposure to corticosteroid medications in order to identify the risk factors for poor outcome and determine difficulties in diagnosis and treatment.
METHODOLOGY AND PRINCIPAL FINDINGS
Articles reporting severe and fulminant forms of amebic colitis between 1991 and 2016 were collected. 525 records were screened to identify 24 cases for qualitative analysis associated with corticosteroid use. Cases arose from areas of high endemicity or travel to such areas. Most cases (14 of 24, 58%) were given corticosteroids for initially misdiagnosed colitis, mainly inflammatory bowel, resulting in rapid progression of disease. Nearly half of all cases underwent surgical intervention, and 25% of cases died, despite all patients eventually receiving treatment with metronidazole. The odds of death did not differ significantly by prior misdiagnosis, co-morbidities, bowel perforation or need for surgery.
CONCLUSIONS AND SIGNIFICANCE
Infection with E. histolytica should be considered prior to the administration of corticosteroids, in particular for patients residing in endemic areas or those with appropriate travel history, especially prior to the diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease. The development of preventative and treatment interventions are needed to improve outcomes of fulminant disease.
Topics: Adrenal Cortex Hormones; Dysentery, Amebic; Humans; Immunosuppression Therapy
PubMed: 27467600
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0004879 -
Southern Medical Journal Nov 2015Invasive amebiasis is common worldwide, but infrequently observed in the United States. It is associated with considerable morbidity in patients residing in or traveling... (Review)
Review
Invasive amebiasis is common worldwide, but infrequently observed in the United States. It is associated with considerable morbidity in patients residing in or traveling to endemic areas. We review the clinical and endoscopic manifestations of amebic colitis to alert physicians to the varied clinical manifestations of this potentially life-threatening disease. Copyright ©Most patients present with watery or bloody diarrhea. Less common presentations of amebic colitis include abdominal pain, overt gastrointestinal bleeding, exacerbation of inflammatory bowel disease, or the incidental association with colon cancer. Amebic liver abscesses are the most frequent complication. Rectosigmoid involvement may be found on colonoscopy; however, most case series have reported that the cecum is the most commonly involved site, followed by the ascending colon. Endoscopic evaluation should be used to assist in the diagnosis, with attention to the observation of colonic inflammation, ulceration, and amebic trophozoites on histopathological examination.
Topics: Abdominal Pain; Animals; Colonic Neoplasms; Colonoscopy; Diagnosis, Differential; Diarrhea; Dysentery, Amebic; Entamoeba histolytica; Evidence-Based Medicine; Feces; Humans; Incidence; Liver Abscess, Amebic; Risk Factors; United States
PubMed: 26539949
DOI: 10.14423/SMJ.0000000000000370 -
Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Nov 2002
Topics: Cecum; Colonoscopy; Dysentery, Amebic; Humans; Male; Melena; Middle Aged; Rectum
PubMed: 12397284
DOI: 10.1067/mge.2002.128696 -
Current Gastroenterology Reports Oct 2007Amebiasis, caused by the protozoan parasite Entamoeba histolytica, affects more than 50 million people worldwide, with over 100,000 deaths annually. The majority of... (Review)
Review
Amebiasis, caused by the protozoan parasite Entamoeba histolytica, affects more than 50 million people worldwide, with over 100,000 deaths annually. The majority of cases are asymptomatic; however, significant morbidity and mortality are associated with illness in the remaining 10% of cases. Recent advances in the understanding of the mechanism of infection by E. histolytica, the role of the innate immune system, and the role of genetic disposition to infection will allow the development of novel detection and treatment methods. The disease mechanisms, clinical findings, therapeutic strategies, and important developments regarding amebiasis are discussed here.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Age Distribution; Animals; Bangladesh; Child; Child, Preschool; Developing Countries; Dysentery, Amebic; Entamoeba histolytica; Entamoebiasis; Humans; Incidence; Male; Prognosis; Protozoan Vaccines; Risk Assessment; Severity of Illness Index; Sex Distribution; Tinidazole
PubMed: 17991346
DOI: 10.1007/s11894-007-0054-8 -
Psychosomatic Medicine 1948
Topics: Aged; Colitis; Dysentery, Amebic; Humans
PubMed: 18879579
DOI: 10.1097/00006842-194807000-00003 -
Lancet (London, England) Mar 2003Amoebiasis is the second leading cause of death from parasitic disease worldwide. The causative protozoan parasite, Entamoeba histolytica, is a potent pathogen.... (Review)
Review
Amoebiasis is the second leading cause of death from parasitic disease worldwide. The causative protozoan parasite, Entamoeba histolytica, is a potent pathogen. Secreting proteinases that dissolve host tissues, killing host cells on contact, and engulfing red blood cells, E histolytica trophozoites invade the intestinal mucosa, causing amoebic colitis. In some cases amoebas breach the mucosal barrier and travel through the portal circulation to the liver, where they cause abscesses consisting of a few E histolytica trophozoites surrounding dead and dying hepatocytes and liquefied cellular debris. Amoebic liver abscesses grow inexorably and, at one time, were almost always fatal, but now even large abscesses can be cured by one dose of antibiotic. Evidence that what we thought was a single species based on morphology is, in fact, two genetically distinct species--now termed Entamoeba histolytica (the pathogen) and Entamoeba dispar (a commensal)--has turned conventional wisdom about the epidemiology and diagnosis of amoebiasis upside down. New models of disease have linked E histolytica induction of intestinal inflammation and hepatocyte programmed cell death to the pathogenesis of amoebic colitis and amoebic liver abscess.
Topics: Adult; Amebiasis; Amebicides; Animals; Child; Dysentery, Amebic; Entamoeba histolytica; Female; Humans; Male
PubMed: 12660071
DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(03)12830-9 -
Chirurgie; Memoires de L'Academie de...
Review
Topics: Adult; Colitis; Dysentery, Amebic; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Necrosis; Resuscitation
PubMed: 1100330
DOI: No ID Found -
World Journal of Surgery 1991Amebiasis is the acute and chronic disease produced by Entamoeba histolytica, an entity which occurs in endemic fashion in many of the tropical and subtropical areas of...
Amebiasis is the acute and chronic disease produced by Entamoeba histolytica, an entity which occurs in endemic fashion in many of the tropical and subtropical areas of the world, capable of affecting diverse organs of the body, especially the colon. Amebiasis has different clinical forms of presentation, varying from the asymptomatic carrier state to severe, although not frequent, fulminant or necrotizing colitis, characteristically associated with high morbidity and mortality. We hereby report a series of 50 adult patients with fulminating amebic colitis managed at our institution between January, 1971 and July, 1989, with a global mortality of 60%. Early diagnosis, treatment with effective antiamebic agents--specifically metronidazole--and opportune aggressive surgical intervention have resulted in better survival rates. We had no survivors prior to 1970; our current survival rate is still a dismal 40%, indicating the very severe nature of the disease.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Dysentery, Amebic; Female; Humans; Male; Metronidazole; Middle Aged; Postoperative Period; Survival Rate
PubMed: 2031357
DOI: 10.1007/BF01659055 -
Research in Veterinary Science May 2021Amebiasis is a disease caused by the protozoan parasite Entamoeba histolytica, which mainly shows symptoms of acute diarrhea, dysentery, amebic colitis, and amebic liver... (Review)
Review
Amebiasis is a disease caused by the protozoan parasite Entamoeba histolytica, which mainly shows symptoms of acute diarrhea, dysentery, amebic colitis, and amebic liver abscesses. As the fourth leading parasitic cause of human mortality, E. histolytica mainly infect children in developing countries, transmitted by food and water contamination. In the majority of infected individuals, Entamoeba sp. asymptomatically colonizes the large intestine and self-limiting, while in others, the parasite breaches the mucosal epithelial barrier to cause amebic colitis and can disseminate to soft organs to cause abscesses. Metronidazole (MTZ) is the recommended and most widely used drug for treating the invasive amebiasis. No amebiasis vaccine has been approved for human clinical trials to date, but many recent vaccine development studies hold promise. For the prevention and control of amebiasis, improvement of water purification systems and hygiene practices could decrease disease incidence. In this review, we focus on the epidemiology, transmission, clinical signs, pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, prevention and control of the zoonotic amebiasis.
Topics: Amebiasis; Animals; Antiprotozoal Agents; Diarrhea; Dysentery, Amebic; Entamoeba histolytica; Humans; Metronidazole; Zoonoses
PubMed: 33676155
DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2021.02.021