Entamoeba moshkovskii
| Entamoeba Moshkovskii | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukarya |
| Kingdom: | Protista |
| Subkingdom: | Protozoa |
| Phylum: | Sarcomastigophora |
| Subphylum: | Sarcodina |
| Class: | Lobosea |
| Order: | Amoebida |
| Family: | Endmoebidae |
| Genus: | Entamoeba |
| Species: | Entamoeba moshkovskii |
Entamoeba moshkovskii is part of the Entamoeba family and is, according to the Center for Disease Control a "free living amoeba."[1] It is found in areas with polluted water sources, and is prevalent in places such as Malaysia, India, and Bangladesh, but more recently has made its way to Turkey, Australia, and North America. This amoeba is said to rarely infect humans, but recently this has changed. It is in question as to whether it is pathogenic or not.[2] Some of the symptoms that often occur are diarrhea, weight loss, bloody stool, and abdominal pain. The first known human infection also known as the "Laredo strain" of Entamoebic mushkovskii was in Laredo, Texas in 1991.[2] It is known to affect people of all ages and genders.[3]
Characteristics
The exact characteristics of Entamoeba moshkovskii are "indistinguishable" from that of Entamoeba histolytica and Entamoeba dispar unless a polymerase chain reaction test is done. This is the only circumstance in which you can distinguish between the three of them.[1]
Transmission
Entamoeba moshkovskii is transmitted by contact or ingestion of any unclean water sources. It is known to be found in areas with polluted water such as brackish coastal pools, river line sediments, and originally sewage.[1]
Risk factors
Risk factors include the use or ingestion of polluted sources of water. Swimming in any areas with polluted water is also a risk. Most of the cases reported are in rural areas.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis with Entamoeba moshkovskii is difficult to do until you are showing symptoms. Until the symptoms begin you will be asymptomatic. The amoeba will form cysts and trophozoites in the Gastrointestinal tract. This can cause abdominal pain and diarrhea. Once symptoms start to occur the standard means of diagnosing are a series of stool sample examinations and serological testing, and if necessary a colonoscopy or a biopsy of intestinal amebic legions or draining of liver abscesses if present.[4] They are checking to see if there is any indication of the amoeba within the feces. In order to do this they have to make several stool smears and carefully observe it under the microscope. At this point if you are positive, it will usually come down to three choices for a diagnosis. The choices being Entamoeba moshkovskii, Entamoeba histolytica, or Entamoeba dispar. These three choices are, in the view of the microscope, "indistinguishable."[1] This is the point where a doctor makes the call for what is most common (Entamoeba histolytica) or something a little more rare (Entamoeba mushkovskii). If they choose to go with what is common they will treat with "entamoebic chemotherapy".[1] This can be a fatal for the patient's sake if it is not Entamoeba histolytica, but this happens quite often. If the choice is to further examine the diagnosis, they will have to do a polymerase chain reaction.[4] This is the only way, to our knowledge to differentiate between the three amoebas and effectively diagnose.
Treatment
Although treatments are still being researched there are some ways to treat Entamoebic moshkovskii. Since this particular amoeba is resistant to emitin,[4] they typically treat using an anti-protozoan or antiamoebic therapy.[4] In tropical regions anyone with cysts in their stool is treated with an anti-protozoan.
Prevention
Preventive methods are to only utilize clean water sources – whether it be for ingestion, cleaning, or recreation – and good hygiene such as hand-washing.
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 CDC. "Entamoeba moshkovskii Infections in Children in Bangladesh". Center for Disease Control.
- 1 2 CID. "Atlas Protozoa".
- ↑ CID. "Congress of International Disease".
- 1 2 3 4 CID (July 2007). "Laboratory Diagnostic Techniques for Entamoeba Species". Clinical Microbiology Reviews 20 (3): 511–32, table of contents. doi:10.1128/CMR.00004-07. PMC 1932757. PMID 17630338.