Intestinal amebae

Although the intestinal amebae that infect humans are not thought of as cla ssic agents of food-borne disease, food plays an important role in the tran smission of these protozoa. This is particularly true for areas of the worl d where the organisms are endemic. Transmission of most intestinal protozoa occurs by the fecal-oral route via contaminated food or water. Among the f our genera of amebae that infect man, only Entamoeba histolytica and Blasto cystis hominis are causes of disease. This article focuses on E. histolytic a because of the organism's medical and economic impact on humans. In addit ion, the epidemiology, control, and laboratory diagnosis of these protozoa are addressed.