Entamoeba histolytica

Epidemiology

amoeba = motile protozoa; moves by forming cytoplasmic protrusions called pseudopodia
occurs as active, growing trophozoites and environmentally protected cysts

the fecal-oral route is the most common means of transmission, which may be through contaminated water/food

disease ranges from asymptomatic to diarrhea to dysentery and liver disease

Morphogically identical to the non-pathogenic Entamoeba disbar, E. histolytica is distinguished based on clinical history.