Medical Parasitology Laboratory

Prepared By: NASR A. SINJILAWI 2003/2004

Laboratory Number 1
Intestinal Amoeba
Entamoeba histolytica Entamoeba coli Endolimax nana Iodamoeba buetschlii
Entamoeba histolytica
Location in host: Lumen of colon and cecum; tissue invasion may involve colon, a
nd extraintestinal locations including liver, lung, brain, skin, and other tissu
es. Definitive host: Human Intermediate host: Not present; direct transmission b
y ingestion of cyst stage Infective stage: Cyst stage Diagnostic stage: Trophozo
ites or cysts in stool specimen. Disease: Intestinal amoebiasis( Amoebic dysente
ry), extraintestinal amoebiasis. Drug of Choice: Iodoquinol or metronidazole ( F
lagyl) for both trophozoite and cyst.
Entamoeba histolytica
Life Cycle1
Entamoeba histolytica life cycle2
Entamoeba histolytic Life cycle 3
Entamoeba histolytica
Trophozoite stage:
Typical characteristics: Size range: 12-50 um Progressive&Directional No.
of nuclei: One Karyosome: small and central Peripheral chromatin: Fine and e
venly distributed Cytoplasm: Finely granular Cytoplasmic inclusions: Inges
ted RBCs
Entamoeba histolytica Cyst
Typical characteristics: Size range: roudish; 10-20 um No.of nuclei: one to
four Karyosome: small and central Peripheral chromatin: Fine and evenly dist
ributed Cytoplasm: Finely granular Cytoplasmic inclusions: Chromatoid bars/
rounded ends,diffuse glycogen mass
Entamoeba coli
Trophozoite
Typical characteristics:

Size range: 15-50 um Motility: Sluggish nondirectional No. of nuclei: one Karyos
ome : Large, irregular shape, eccentric Peripheral chromatin: coarse and unevenl
y distributed Cytoplasm: Coarse and often vacuolated Cytoplasmic inclusions: Bac
teria, other debris
Entamoeba coli Cyst
Typical Characteristics:
Size range: Roundish;10-35 um. No.of nuclei: one to eight. Karyosome : Large, ir
regular shape, eccentric. Peripheral chromatin: coarse and unevenly distribute
d Cytoplasmic inclusions: thin chromatoid bars with pointed to splintered ends
. Diffuse glycogen mass.
Endolimax nana
Trophozoite

Typical Characteristics:
Size range: 6-15 um Motility: Sluggish, directional No. of nuclei: one Karyosome
: Large, irregular, “blotlike” Peripheral chromatin: Absent. Cytoplasm: granula
r and vacuolated Cytoplasmic inclusions: Bacteria.
Endolimax nana cyst

Typical Characteristics: Size range: 5-14 um Shape: Spherical, ovoid, ellipsoid.

No. of nuclei: one to fourfour most common. Karyosome: Large,”blotlike”, usuall
y central.
Peripheral chromatin: Absent. Cytoplasm: granular and vacuolated.
Iodamoeba buetschlii Trophozoite

Typical Characteristics:
Size range: 4-20 um Motility: Active No. of nuclei: one Karyosome: Large, usuall
y central refractive achromatic granules may or may not present Peripheral chrom
atin: Absent. Cytoplasm: Coarsely granular and vacuolated. Cytoplasmic inclusion
s: Bacteria, yeast cells, other debris
Iodamoeba buetschlii Cyst

Typical Characteristics:
Size range: 6-15 um Shape: Ovoidal, ellipsoidal,other shapes No. of nuclei: one
Karyosome: Large, eccentric achromatic granules on one side may be present. Peri
pheral chromatin: Absent. Cytoplasm: Coarsely granular and vacuolated. Cytoplasm
ic inclusions: Welldefined glycogen mass.