Session 12

Human parasitic protozoan (Entamoeba histolytica).
Entamoeba histolytica is a pathogenic parasite in the intestine of human beings and

many other primates. It inhabits the mucous and sub-mucous layers of the large intestine. It feeds
mainly on the tissues of the intestinal wall and often produces severe ulcers and abscesses. In
chronic cases, it may enter the blood circulation to reach the liver, lung, brain and other organs.
It causes a serious and often fatal disease known as amoebic dysentery or amoebiasis. E.
histolytica exists in two distict forms: the magna Trophozoite or form and the minuta or precystic
form.
Trophozoites: The adult trophic form of Entamoeba is known as Trophozoite or Magna. It

inhabits anterior part of large intestine, i.e. colon of human beings. It resembles amoeba in
structure but differs in parasitic mode of life. Its body is covered by plasma lemma and cytoplasm
is differentiated into ectoplasm and endoplasm. There is a single large, broad and blunt
pseudopodium formed of ectoplasm. Endoplasm contains single spherical nucleus and f ood
vacuoles. Nucleus has peripheral crown of chromatin blocks and a centrally located nucleolus.
The trophozoites multiply by repeated binary fission in the intestinal wall of host. Some of the
daughter entamoebae grow into normal adults while others stop growing. These are distinctly
smaller than the normal trophozoites and are called Minuta forms.
Precystic (minuta Form): It is smaller, spherical and non- pathogenic stage. Normally, it lives
in the lumen of the intestine and rarely found in tissues. It undergoes encystations and helps in
transmission of parasites from one host to other.
Life cycle: Entamoeba histolytica is monogenetic, i.e., its life cycle is completed on one host only;
the man.
Its life cycle is completed as follows:

Encystment: In the precystic forms, entamoeba remains only in the intestinal lumen. They
undergo encystment but before encystment, the parasites round up, eliminate food vacuoles and
accumulate considerable amount of food materials in the form of glycogen and black rod-like
chromatoid granules. Each parasite secretes a thin, rounded, resistant, colourless and
transparent cyst wall around it.
The cysts of Entamoeba histolytica vary in size. Its cytoplasm is clear and each cyst is
mononucleate at this stage. Presence of chromatoid bodies is the characteristic of the cysts of
Entamoeba histolytica. They occur either singly or in the multiples of two or more. The nucleus
of the cysts divides twice so that each cyst now becomes tetra nucleate (fig. 9.2). At this stage,
the cyst is infective to a new host. Encysted forms pass out with the faecal matter of the host.
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Transfer to new host: The infective cysts remain viable for a considerable length of time outside
the human intestine, if environmental conditions are favourable. Infection of fresh human host
takes place by swallowing the infective cysts with contaminated food and drinks.
Excystment: The metacystic trophozites feed on the contents of the intestine and grow in size
to form the trophozites of the next generation. The trophozoites stay in the lumen of the intestine
for a particular period when they may attack the wall of the intestine and start the life cycle again.
Entamoeba histolytica causes amoebic dysentery, abscesses in liver, lungs and brain and non-
dysenteric infections.
Following measures may be helpful in protecting ourselves against the disease:

1. Sanitary disposal of faecal matter
2. Perfect sanitation and protection of water and vegetables from pollution.
3. Washing of hands with antiseptic soap and water before touching the food.
4. Cleanliness in preparing the food.
5. Protection of foods and drinks from houseflies, cockroaches, etc.
6. Raw and improperly washed and cooked vegetables should be avoided.
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References:
1. Adam Sedgwick - A Students Text Book of Zoology, Low Price Publications, Delhi, Vol. I, II
& Vol. III, 1990.
2. Agarwal V.K. – Zoology for Degree Students: Non-Chordata, S. Chand & Company, 2017.
3. Barnes R. D. - Invertebrate Zoology, Saunders College, Philadelphia, 1980.
4. Dhami & Dhami - Invertebrate Zoology, R. Chand & Co., 2009.
5. Ekambaranatha Ayyar - A Manual of Zoology Vol. I, Part I & II, S. Vishwanathan Pvt. Ltd.,
1982.
6. Hyman, L. H. - The Invertebrates - Vols. I to IV, Mc. Graw Hill, 1940.
7. Jordan & Verma - Invertebrate Zoology, S. Chand & Company, New Delhi, 2013.
8. Kotpal - Modem Text Book of Invertebrates, Rastogi Publications, Meerut, 2017.
9. Kotpal - Protozoa to Echinodermata (Phylum Series), Rastogi Publications, Meerut, 2017.
10. M. Prakash & C. K. Arora - Laboratory Animals, Anmol Publications, New Delhi, 1998.
11. P.S. Verma - A Manual of Practical Zoology – Invertebrates, S. Chand & Co., 2013.
12. S.S. Lal- A Text book of Practical Zoology – Invertebrates, Rastogi Publications, 2016.
13. T. Jeffery Parker, William A. Haswell. A Text Book of Zoology, Low Price Publications, Delhi,
Vol. I & II, 1990.
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Human parasitic protozoan (Entamoeba histolytica).

Entamoeba histolytica is a pathogenic parasite in the intestine of human beings and

Trophozoites: The adult trophic form of Entamoeba is known as Trophozoite or Magna. It

Its life cycle is completed as follows:

Following measures may be helpful in protecting ourselves against the disease:

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