Entamoeba histolytica: Difference between revisions
No edit summary |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 5: | Line 5: | ||
===Higher order taxa=== | ===Higher order taxa=== | ||
Cellular organisms; Eukaryota; | Cellular organisms; Eukaryota; Entamoebidae; Entamoeba | ||
===Species=== | ===Species=== | ||
| Line 16: | Line 16: | ||
==Description and Significance== | ==Description and Significance== | ||
''Entamoeba histolytica'' is an anaerobic parasitic protozoan that infects predominantly humans and other primates. ''E. histolytica'' can infect dogs and cats, but these animals do not contribute significantly to transmission since they usually do not produce cysts. Cysts are the viable form of the parasite outside the host. | ''Entamoeba histolytica'' is an anaerobic parasitic protozoan that infects the digestive tracts of predominantly humans and other primates. ''E. histolytica'' can infect dogs and cats, but these animals do not contribute significantly to transmission since they usually do not produce cysts. Cysts are the viable form of the parasite outside the host. Cysts are shed with the host's feces; they can be transmitted in water, soils and on foods under moist conditions. The active stage of the parasite is called the trophozoite, which only survives in the host and in fresh feces. | ||
The infection of ''E. histolytica'' causes the disease, Amebiasis (a.k.a. Amoebiasis). | |||
Revision as of 05:42, 28 August 2007
A Microbial Biorealm page on the genus Entamoeba histolytica
Classification
Higher order taxa
Cellular organisms; Eukaryota; Entamoebidae; Entamoeba
Species
Entamoeba histolytica
|
NCBI: [1] Taxonomy |
Description and Significance
Entamoeba histolytica is an anaerobic parasitic protozoan that infects the digestive tracts of predominantly humans and other primates. E. histolytica can infect dogs and cats, but these animals do not contribute significantly to transmission since they usually do not produce cysts. Cysts are the viable form of the parasite outside the host. Cysts are shed with the host's feces; they can be transmitted in water, soils and on foods under moist conditions. The active stage of the parasite is called the trophozoite, which only survives in the host and in fresh feces.
The infection of E. histolytica causes the disease, Amebiasis (a.k.a. Amoebiasis).
