Asymptomatic amebic colitis in a homosexual man

We describe case of a 75-yr-old Japanese homosexual man who was diagnosed a s having amebic colitis. The present case is unique in that invasive amebia sis has occurred in a homosexual man, because Entamoeba histolytica in homo sexual patients is considered to be a nonpathogenic and commensal organism in western countries, and that the patient has not complained of any gastro intestinal symptoms associated with minute colonic lesion of an isolated ce cal ulcer. This report indicates that the absence of gastrointestinal sympt oms does not rule out invasive amebiasis. Therefore, once the ameba is iden tified in stool specimens, even in homosexual men, it is important to diffe rentiate pathogenic from nonpathogenic species irrespective of whether the patient is symptomatic, and to treat the patient infected with pathogenic s pecies. By means of this strategy, we can prevent pathogenic ameba from spr eading in the community. (Am J Gastroenterol 1999;94:2306-2308. (C) 1999 by Am. Coll. of Gastroenterology).